That is the consensus among Netherlands Antilles stakeholders about their percentage of trade between 2000 and 2006 with CARIFORUM countries.

And after a meeting with the Barbados Chamber of Commerce here last week, Curaçao's commissioner of Economic Affairs Donald Henrietta told BARBADOS BUSINESS AUTHORITY that Curaçao, a part of the Dutch Antilles, would be willing to make foreign direct investment here.

"In Barbados there are opportunities for us. . . . There are products which we can produce here
or send over here," he said, noting that as the owner of a beverage firm he already had a good relationship with Mount Gay, which produces Puncha Cuba for his company.

He was part of a team that came to Barbados on a trade mission to spur local business people into snapping up opportunities that would profit both economies.

At a seminar entitled CARIFORUM & OCTS (Overseas Countries & Territories) New Opportunities for Cooperation through the EPA held at Grand Barbados Beach Resort, Curaçao Development Corporation managing director Arthur Rosaria said that tourism, financial services, logistics, ICT and e-commerce held good business opportunities.

Quoting figures from the local Department of Economic Affairs on Curaçao-Barbados trade last year, Curaçao Chamber of Commerce
& Industry chairman Ruud Thuis
said Barbadian exports were
led by $4.6 million in medication,
while locals topped their imports
from the Dutch region with
$2.5 million in ships and yachts.
(SR)