Welcome to Aruba…let us be your guide

Michael-Leo van RomondtDeloitte Dutch Caribbean

Backbone of our economy

SME’s account for more than 65% of Aruba economy

Medium < 50 employees

Small < 10 employees

Micro < 2 employees

Different types of companies (NV/VBA/AEC)

Backbone of our economy

Aruba government has been facilitating foreign investment through ARINA (one stop shop)

Improving the business climate such as speeding up licensing procedures and lowering costs.

In comparison to mainly Europe, Aruba still has substantial lower costs of doing business

Backbone of our economy

Aruba Customs is currently undergoing a transformation process to simplify procedures, which will facilitate doing business

Deloitte is facilitating this process through our indirect tax expert/partner Julian Lopez Ramirez, who is also present at this event for further explanation

Current situation

Diverse economy needed from risk perspective

Infrastructure development underway (new road development/airport improvements/renovation and expansion hospital/harbour move to Barcadera) – better transit flow of goods and services

Current situation

Specific tax products in place (more underway for specific areas of development)

Excellent airlift to the Americas and Europe

Good harbour facilities (expansion plans underway)

HUMAN ASSET is Aruba’s biggest asset (service minded, multilingual, educated)

Focus

Aruba as a Gateway

Better utilization/marketing of current incentives (IPC, Freezone, AEC, Transparant company)/further improvements underway

Special industries (niche market)

Proven top brand tourist product – from undiscovered to unparalleled

Focus

Partnership with larger groups, which have added value for Aruba economy (capital injection)

Local involvement – transfer of know how and expertise

Local entrepreneurs with cross-cultural expertise

Logistics and Business

Airport

San Nicolas

Harbour

Free zone

Gateway in motion

Schiphol

TNO

Several Medical schools

Tourism education programs

Baptist medical cooperation with IMSAN

Gasunie

Practical examples SME’s

Tourism Center of Excellence (export knowledge/experience)

Schiphol cooperation has given ample opportunities to local entrepreneurs to expand business and bring it to the next level (onsite operators, aircraft registration, private aircraft facilities)/F&B operators and maintenance

Practical examples SME’s

Local entrepreneurs working with world class brands are currently expanding to other countries

Due to shift towards green economy, there is a spin off of technology expertise inflow towards Aruba, which will bring local expertise to even higher level (f.e. better storage of overcapacity of wind energy)

Practical examples SME’s

Free zone opportunities has already brought lower costs (in comparison to mainly Europe) to the attention of European entrepreneurs

For the Latin American partners, we see somewhat different reasons to do business in Aruba (f.e. safety reasons/relationship with Europe/excellent airlift/closeness to Latin America/multilingual and multicultural)

Win-Win

Gateway between Europe and the Americas

The Green Dot is at Your Service to facilitate your use Aruba’s Green Gateway!

Masha danki pa e atenshon

Dank voor uw aandacht

Thank you for your attention

Muchas gracias por su atencion