Meeting with the director of the Western Hemisphere Department, Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs
ORANJESTAD – On February 13, 2025, outgoing Minister of Economic Affairs, Economy, and Sustainable Development Geoffrey Wever welcomed Ms. Marjan Kamstra, Director of the Western Hemisphere Department of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Ms. Annemieke Verrijp, Special Representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to Aruba, Curaçao & Bonaire.based in Willemstad, Curacao.
During the meeting, they addressed various topics, including the economic policies of U.S. President Donald Trump, particularly regarding increased import tariffs and their potential impact on the economy of the Netherlands and the Dutch Caribbean islands.
Minister Geoffrey Wever, and the Department of Economic Affairs, Trade, and Industry, conducted a macroeconomic analysis to gain a broader perspective on the possible consequences of these policies for Aruba. Since President Trump’s decisions vary, continuous monitoring and regular study will be carried out to stay one step ahead and minimize the impact and consequences for Aruba, mainly inflationary effects.
Other topics included the cooperation between the Kingdom’s embassies in the Latin American and Caribbean regions to provide information that could benefit local traders in their respective markets.
The Kingdom regularly organizes trade missions in the region, allowing entrepreneurs from Aruba and the other Dutch Caribbean islands to participate and explore commercial opportunities. Minister Wever and a delegation from DEACI, KVK, ATIA, and local entrepreneurs attended various trade missions in Colombia, the Netherlands, Suriname, and recently Panama.
In March, the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) will be in Aruba to give a presentation and workshop on the various opportunities they offer. Additionally, they will elaborate on the different trade missions planned for 2025.