On May 9th 2019, the Curaçao Chamber of Commerce together with The Representative of the Netherlands in Aruba Curaçao en Sint Maarten, hosted a Webinar together with the World Bank on tendering procedures and procurement rules in connection with the rebuilding of St. Maarten after the devastation of hurricane Irma in September 2017.
The St. Maarten Recovery, Reconstruction and Resilience Trust Fund is financed by the government of the Netherlands for up to 470 million euros (US$553.4 million) and managed by the World Bank. The St. Maarten government implements the activities financed by the Trust Fund in partnership with the World Bank.
This morning’s Webinar was held at the Renaissance Hotel for which a total of 161 local companies registered. The Webinar was held simultaneously on Aruba, Bonaire and Sint Maarten which totalled 300 particpants. Companies that registered and attended this mornings session are in diverse fields such as project management, civil-, mechanical- and electrical engineering, materials procurement, environmental, construction and others.
The Chairman of the Curaçao Chamber of Commerce as well as Association of Dutch Chambers of Commerce, Mr. Billy Jonckheer, opened the Webinar and welcomed the participants by stating: “Suffice to say that Curaçao is going through trying times. You are the ones who know this better than anyone else. The Chamber is promoting a new way of thinking to bridge our way to new realities. This thinking is exposed and explained in the Chamber’s latest policy document, namely “Ban sembra awe pa kosechá mañan” (Let’s sow today in order to harvest tomorrow). It is not about a project here and a project there. It is not about an incentive here and an incentive there, the so called “low hanging fruits”. It is about a paradigm shift –a disruptive game change, so you will- in our thinking about the economy. A fundamentals challenge accompanied by structural transformation, where people, productivity, economy and the level of well being are of the essence. This event by the World Bank, the RVO and the VNW, fits smoothly into the shift in thinking that we are proposing. At least, it is a good opportunity to give our services sector a so much needed boost.”
Following, The Representative of the Netherlands, Mr. Erwin Arkenbout stated to the audience that: “ there is a link to the role they have as being the Representative of the Netherlands: playing a coordinating and facilitating role in bringing parties together and strenghtening the relationshop not only between The Netherlands and the Islands, but also between large and small companies from different islands together to cooperate on the reconstruction of Sint Maarten. By exchanging knowledge and skillsm a sustainable relationshop can be guaranteed.”
The presentations held by the World Bank and Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) focused on ‘working with the World Bank’ including the general tender process and procurement rules. The National Recovery Program Bureau (NRPB) focused on specific situations regarding the reconstruction of Sint Maarten; the current and short-term projects that are being carried out connected to the Trust Fund, via the World Bank. The webinar was concluded with a Q&A.
There were many questions posed from the all the islands however not all could be answered during the webinar, for which participants were told that every question, will be answered in writing but also addressed at the upcoming followup session to be held in June 2019 whereby the representatives of World Bank will be in Curaçao. During the period leading up to June 5th , the Chamber will be informing its participants on the latest the information regarding upcoming Tenders.
The Chamber is of the opinion that the rebuilding of St. Maarten provides a good opportunity for our companies to export their services in all these areas of knowledge and experience.
May you have any inquiery, don’t hesitate to contact the Chamber @ telephone 461-1451 and/ or via email businessinfo@curacao-chamber.cw
