Aruba – On your mark!
By admin in Business opportunities on 03. Nov, 2011No Comments
If the world economy were a sports event, we would probably be participating in a decathlon. The twists and turns, obstacles and opportunities seem like a relay with no finish line. Yet amidst these events, Aruba, a Dutch Caribbean island off the coast of South America is positioning itself for success and is poised for smart growth.
With the new economic policy titled “The Green Gateway. A knowledge-driven, entrepreneurial economy”, Aruba is on its mark. Leveraging its geo-political position within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, in addition to its economic and cultural ties with emerging economies in Latin America, Aruba is utilizing its savvy spirit for an innovation event which is set to turn some heads.
Beyond a vision for sustainability and a pro-growth policy, the Government of Aruba is making great strides towards realizing “The Green Gateway”. Two national initiatives are especially noteworthy which emphasize its essence.
The first strategy leverages and integrates Aruba’s geological position with its position within the Dutch Kingdom, thereby creating a unique logistical asset at the crossroads of trade between Latin America and Europe. In the words of the Prime Minister, Mike Eman “We can be the gateway for the European Union and the Kingdom of the Netherlands to access the Caribbean and Latin America. This is how we will use the strategic location of Aruba for the benefit of the entire Kingdom of the Netherlands.”
Emphasizing the importance of energy security for sustainable growth, the second national strategy focuses on creating an energy efficient, self-sufficient society. Some 20% of Aruba’s energy is already created by wind turbines, and this percentage is set to grow as Aruba taps into its natural assets of sun, win and water.
Leveraging its strong ties with the Dutch Kingdom, and acknowledging the importance of a knowledge-driven economy, Aruba has established a Renewable Energy Research and Education Institute, the first regional branch of the Dutch renowned TNO. Aruba will become the first living lab of sustainable energy, which was inaugurated during Aruba’s Green Conference, with keynote speaker Prince Willem Alexander of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
If the world economy were a sports event, it would probably be held in Aruba… leading the way with “The Green Gateway”!
By Gregory (Greg) M. Peterson, Managing Director Free Zone Aruba (FZA)