A New Commercial Zone For Curaçao

The Curaçao government’s Council of Ministers has agreed to change the destination of one-third of the economic zone located at Nieuwe Haven (Koningsplein) following a petition from Curaçao’s Minister of Economic Development, Mr. Ruisandro Cijntje. This part will become an industrial/commercial area that will serve economic activities such as production, logistics services, and technological services. More than 60 companies, both local and international, will soon have the opportunity to establish themselves in this industrial/commercial area.

The current industrial park in Brievengat is already full, and Curinde, who is responsible for managing the industrial park, has indicated that they regularly receive more petitions from companies wishing to establish themselves in an industrial/commercial area. This was the main reason Curinde approached the government of Curaçao in 2018 with a petition to adjust the economic zone at Koningsplein to meet the existing demand for an additional industrial/commercial area.

This petition took some time since it involved a change in the law, but the Ministry of Economic Development (MEO), the Ministry of Finance, and Curinde proudly announced recently that this had become a reality. The remaining two-thirds of the area at Koningsplein will continue to function as an economic zone and maintain its regular activities. Soon, Curinde will work on modernizing the economic zone law, which will also contribute to attracting other types of activities to the area.

Unlike the Ezone Law which only allowed exporting activities, companies in the industrial/commercial area do not necessarily have to focus on exportation. However, if one of the companies in the industrial/commercial area wishes to export, they are free to do so. Companies established in this industrial/commercial area will have to pay all taxes and OB, which means they will actively contribute to Curaçao’s economy.