Target sectors

Tourism – Curacao is an ever more popular destination with much to offer:

• A wonderful tropical climate
• Many attractive natural beaches with crystal clear water
• Great diving
• Perfect conditions for yachting 
• Rich culture, including the downtown area which is on UNESCO’s World Heritage List
• Exciting and diverse nightlife
• An ample offering of excellent hotels and restaurants for every taste and budget
• Excellent air and sea connections
• Good roads
• Inexpensive car rental
• A friendly, welcoming population

In 2009 Curacao welcomed over 400,000 tourists (including 200,000 cruise visitors), mainly from Holland, the US, and the region.

For more information on the many opportunities in this sector, please visit the Curacao Tourism Board: www.curacao.com.

Transnational Education (TNE) – Many international educational institutions are expressing interest in establishing themselves in Curacao:

• Curacao serves as an alternative for the limited number of student slots for medical schools in Europe and in the USA
• The island is political stable
• Curacao is located outside the hurricane belt.

Logistics and e-commerce - Curacao is the perfect trading hub, supported by state-of-the-art legislation:

• A strategic location at the crossroads between Europe and the Americas
• The region’s largest deep sea port and a modern, high-capacity airport
• Excellent air and sea connections to many destinations
• The island flexibly accommodates both the European and the South American business culture
• Excellent facilities like the Industrial Zone at Brievengat and the e-zone in the harbor (formerly Free Zone), which is known throughout the region and attracts thousands of business visitors/buyers each year
• Special legislation facilitates e-commerce development and enables Curacao to offer special grants to attract investors in e-commerce
• Excellent telecommunications infrastructure and facilities like the E-commerce Park
• A regulated gaming environment instituted by government decree makes Curacao a preferred base of operations for online gaming businesses
   

International financial services – Why Curacao has a thriving financial sector:

• Very favorable fiscal environment for businesses and individuals alike
• Reputable image thanks to clearly defined transparency policies
• A number of international banks have offices on the island and offer a wide range of internationally required services
• Legal practitioners and tax advisors provide expert advice in the fields of international corporate and tax law

Oil processing (refinery) – Curacao is noteworthy for anyone active in the oil industry:

• Home to the Caribbean’s largest refinery
• A number of excellent industrial locations at deep waterways
• Curacao’s central location has the advantage that raw materials and finished products can be shipped in and distributed quite easily