The 10th edition of Curaçao Export Week, held from May 6th to 12th this year, brought together exporters, entrepreneurs, policymakers, creatives, and partners under one clear theme: it is time to move from strategy to action.
Over the course of the week, participants took stock of where Curaçao stands as an export economy, what is working, and what still needs to change. The conversations were candid, the data was sobering in places, and the outcomes were concrete.
The Numbers Behind the Urgency
Reggie Martis, Head of Data and Statistics at the Central Bank of Curaçao and Sint Maarten, opened the week with a data-driven look at Curaçao’s export performance. The picture he painted was one of gradual progress alongside persistent vulnerability. While the island is slowly diversifying beyond its traditional economic pillars, the need to strengthen exports, drive innovation, and improve competitiveness remains urgent. A new export dashboard was also launched during the week, giving businesses and policymakers a clearer view of Curaçao’s export performance and the opportunities that lie ahead.
Exporters Speak Honestly
One of the highlights of the week was hearing directly from businesses on the ground. Limpi Recycling, MijnMaatschappij, and CXPay each shared their real export journeys, including the challenges that rarely make it into policy documents. High transportation costs, connectivity limitations, access to finance, certification bottlenecks, and unstable supply of raw materials were among the issues raised. Their stories were a reminder that exports are not built in strategy sessions. They are built by entrepreneurs willing to innovate, take risks, and push into new markets despite the odds.
WTO Accession and Regional Collaboration
The opening session on May 6 also focused on Curaçao’s ongoing path toward WTO accession, with a video message from Ambassador Matthew Wilson, Chair of Curaçao’s WTO Accession Working Party, who underscored the importance of connecting the island more deeply to the global trading system. Regional collaboration was equally prominent throughout the week, with the One Caribbean Business Network reinforcing its role as a growing platform connecting entrepreneurs and SMEs across Curaçao, Aruba, Suriname, and beyond.
From Conversation to Action Plan
The week closed on May 12 with Minister of Economic Development Roderick Middelhof visiting local exporters and manufacturers directly, connecting policy to the practical realities of businesses operating today. One concrete outcome that emerged from the week was the idea of recurring Export Clinics, practical forums where exporters, experts, and institutions can work through operational challenges together, starting with the issues raised most often during the week.
The topics, bottlenecks, and recommendations gathered throughout Curaçao Export Week 2026 will now feed into the policy and action agenda for the year ahead, with progress to be reported back at the 2027 edition.
Curaçao Export Week is becoming something more than an annual event. It is becoming the platform through which the island’s export transformation is tracked, debated, and driven forward.
