TEXT VANESSA VAN DIJSSELDONK
NEW STRIDES IN
THE KINGDOM OF THE NETHERLANDS SIGNS MOU WITH THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC After three years of ongoing negotiations, the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Dominican Republic signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The signing took place in Santo Domingo where the Minister of Economic Development, Eugene Rhuggenaath, signed on behalf of Curaçao; Prime Minister William Marlin, on behalf of Sint Maarten; and the Kingdom Ambassador to the Domini-
can Republic and Haiti, Marijke van DruinenLittel, for the Netherlands and Aruba. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Miguel Vargas, signed the MoU on behalf of the Dominican Republic.
The MoU contains several areas of cooperation including commerce, education, health, regional security, trans-shipment and tourism. In addition, the MoU has provisions entailing
CURAÇAO RENEWS OPEN SKIES AGREEMENT WITH THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
On 26 September 2016, the Minister of Traffic, Transport and Spatial Planning of Curaçao, Suzanne Camelia-Romer, and the U.S. Consul General to Curaçao., Aruba, and Sint Maarten, Margaret D. Hawthorne, signed an Open Skies Agreement between the United States and the Kingdom of the Netherlands, in respect of Curaçao. This Agreement’s aim is to deepen the commercial and economic ties that exist between the United States and Curaçao, which is achieved by establishing a framework for a modern commercial aviation relationship. It will in turn lead to the creation of various opportunities for growth in air transportation services, as well as offering potential benefits for travelers, airlines and businesses. It is expected that by facilitating the development of air links, both the Governments of the United States and Curaçao will advance economic growth in sectors beyond aviation, including tourism.
26
CURAÇAO BUSINESS
| NUMBER 1 | 2016
technical and political consultations in order or ensure the momentum is kept in developing protocols to give content to the signed document. This provides renewed opportunities for the business community in Curaçao, stimulating foreign direct investment and increased cooperation between the Dominican Republic and all parts of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.