Curaçao hosted AI Islands 2025: Shaping The Digital Future of Island Nations

Last week Curaçao hosted the first-ever AI Islands summit from August 27 to 29. This landmark event brought together over 100 influential leaders, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and investors from around the globe. This pioneering summit, hosted by the Central Bank of Curaçao and Sint Maarten (CBCS), presented a unique opportunity to explore how artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to transform island economies.

The summit was organized by Islandpreneur International with the support of the US consulate in Curaçao, Curaçao’s Ministry of Economic Development (MEO), and CBCS. The objective was to provide island nations with the knowledge and AI-powered tools necessary to strengthen their entrepreneurial ecosystems and enhance their global competitiveness. Curaçao, with its rapidly emerging status as a tech hub, was an ideal location to host this event. The island’s dedication to innovation and its well-developed entrepreneurial ecosystem provide the ideal setting for discussions on how AI can generate new opportunities and promote economic growth.

As one of the speakers at the event, Curaçao Investment & Export Promotion Agency (CINEX) CEO, Miles Mercera explains: “Partnering with the AI Islands summit allows Curaçao to showcase our vision, connect global stakeholders, and accelerate opportunities for our entrepreneurs.”

The AI Islands summit offered high-impact workshops, panel discussions, and keynote presentations led by renowned global and regional thought leaders over three days. Topics ranged from the impact of AI on finance and governance to strategies for leveraging AI in business to stand out in an increasingly AI-driven world. Attendees had the opportunity to participate in interactive, hands-on workshops where they learned to automate workflows, build bots, and create apps in under 30 minutes.

These practical experiences equipped entrepreneurs with the tools necessary to incorporate AI into their businesses and maintain a competitive edge. Additionally, CINEX revealed its vision and strategy for advancing the digital economy in the region, further solidifying Curaçao’s role as a connector for AI innovation.

The AI Islands summit was the first step in a multi-year initiative to establish Curaçao as a leader in AI for island economies. By fostering collaboration between local and international stakeholders, the summit helped drive the digital transformation of Curaçao and the broader Caribbean region. This was more than a conference; it was an opportunity to participate in a movement that will shape the future of AI in island economies for years to come.