CURACAO'S STRENGTHS

As part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, with a stable industrious government, Curacao is a reliable partner for all port-related business activities. With its direct links to major markets, modern telecommunications infrastructure and competitive international financial sector, the Ports of Curacao are well-equipped for all business activities.
Strategically located just 35 miles off the coast of Venezuela, Curacao is among the region's most developed and best-organized ports. The port authority is a strong asset to the island spearheading economic development of the ports and attracting reliable partners to the island by offering competitive and efficient service that meets international standards.

Throughout the centuries the main port, the Port of Willemstad, which comprises the St. Anna Bay and the Schottegat Bay, has evolved from a few simple quays to a multi-faceted maritime service center, housing several transnational companies including: 

• One of the largest crude oil refinery and oil transshipment centers in the region, operated by Petróleos de Venezuela S.A. 
• A state-of-the-art Curacao Container Terminal offering an extensive array of cargo facilities, operated by Curacao Port Services (CPS), Inc. 
• A dynamic Free Trade Zone managed by Curinde N.V. 
• The region's largest dry dock operated by Curacao Dry Dock Company Inc. 
• Modern cruise terminals and state-of-the-art mega cruise facility, managed by Curacao Ports Authority (CPA) N.V. 

Broad Economic Base
Tourism is, without doubt, a major contributor to Curacao’s economy.  This Dutch Caribbean island has many unique and enchanting attractions which serve as a valuable asset in the island’s strategic placement in the tourism market. But in addition to tourism, the economy of Curacao relies on diverse economic activities, which include trade and industry, as well as a well-established international financial service sector. The broad economic base of Curacao helps to assume its stability and sustainability.

Solid and Consistent
Besides its political stability, Curacao is also known for its social-economic and financial consistency. It enjoys a relatively high standard of living as compared to other areas in the region. Curacao's diversity and trading capacity have always been its strength. The unit of currency is the Netherlands Antilles Guilder (ANG) which is tied to the US Dollar at an exchange rate of US$ 1.00=ANG 1.78. This once again reflects the financial stability of the economy in Curacao.

Dutch and Papiamentu are the official languages, while English and Spanish are widely spoken.
The population of approximately 160,000 is comprised of over 80 different nationalities.

Modern Business Infrastructure
Due to the climate on the island there are few natural resources that would enable the production of raw materials on any large scale. As a result, the economy has evolved into a service-oriented economy. The Port of Willemstad is at the center of these developments, offering all facilities needed by the maritime industry within the close proximity of the harbor area. The financial services sector is represented strongly and includes internationally renowned banks, financial consultants and insurance companies. The island’s telecommunications infrastructure is modern and competitive, keeping abreast with the latest technological advancements. A wide variety of maritime services are also available in Willemstad.

Many major international airlines, such as KLM and American Airlines offer scheduled services to Europe, South and Central America, the Caribbean and the USA. The Curacao Airport Economic Zone adjacent to the Curacao International Airport, offers attractive possibilities for airfreight transshipment and air-sea connections are also on the rise. A wide variety of shipping agents provide services to a considerable number of shipping lines who make use of the ports of Curacao.