Europe Meets the Americas was a success!
By Anika in Business opportunities, Free Zone Aruba News on 08. May, 20131 Comment
On Monday, May 6th, the Europe Meets the Americas (EMA) Business Conference kicked off with a very well-attended venue at Westin Aruba Resort. More than 700 visitors from 200 companies where present during the conference. Companies came from 17 different countries including Aruba, Belgium, Bonaire, Brazil, Colombia, Curacao, The Netherlands, Panama, Spain, United States, Venezuela. The program of the first day was filled with interesting speakers and presentations. Simon Smits, Director-General for external Economic Relations of the Netherlands came with a business delegation from The Netherlands. Several other interesting keynote speakers such as José María Figueres (President Carbon War Rom), Javier Gamboa (Ministerio de Comercia, Industria y Turismo Colombia), Jan Peter Balkenende (Former Prime Minister of the Netherlands), Hans Biesheuvel (President MKB Nederland), Jos Nijhuis (President and CEO Schiphol Group) and others presented during the first conference day.
The second conference ( May 7th ) started with Breakout Sessions, matchmakings and the Mini Conference on Urban Renewal. The breakout sessions provided the attendants the opportunity to obtain key information about using Aruba as a gateway for EU to Latin American markets and vice versa. . We organized our breakout sessions together with Carbon War Room, TNO Caribbean Branch Office, NCH, and IDB. The session where very well attended.
During the matchmaking sessions, participants had the opportunity to conduct one- on- one conversations with various organizations and companies. There was a lot of interest for the showcase model for companies wishing to enter the Latin American market, using the incentives offered by the Free Zone.
Many companies were impressed by the opportunities Aruba has to offer and expressed their interest in using Aruba as a hub for the region. We are already busy with follow-up, contacting the companies we spoke with, and look forward to new business partners.
Different MOU’s where signed during the conference, including Shell, GasUnie, Anthony Veder, Land Aruba and Utilities Aruba signed the first MOU.
Furthermore FZA, represented by managing director Mr. Greg Peterson, signed a special MOU with Ecological Technologies &Trading Free Zone NV, represented by its managing director Mr. Freddie Kelkboom on the production and supply of biogas to WEB Aruba NV. The content of the MOU will be further discussed in a separate blog.
The Europe Meets the Americas Business conference was a great success and we look forward to the next conference! Aruba gave a positive impression during the conference and we are looking forward to the new business opportunities the conference brought with it.
We want to award exceptional credit to the organizing team for their great effort and support in making the Europe Meets the Americas conference a success.
If you see business opportunities in Aruba’s gateway, do not hesitate to contact us.
Rolando Romero
May 10th, 2013
Wished that I could be there, busy a lot of work will be there next year. Hope all the BEST