AMSTERDAM, WILLEMSTAD – The Curaçao Investment & Export Promotion Agency (CINEX) concluded its participation in The Next Web (TNW) Conference 2025, where it led a strategic export mission aimed at promoting Curaçao’s digital economy, diaspora engagement, and tech ecosystem.
As an official Silver Partner Sponsor, CINEX hosted the Curaçao Pavilion at TNW 2025, highlighting the island’s innovation potential and positioning Curaçao as an emerging digital export destination. This participation aligns with Curaçao’s National Export Strategy (NES) and supports the broader objective of developing the fourth economic pillar of the country: the digital and creative economy.
The Curaçao delegation included representatives from over 15 companies and institutions across sectors such as cloud infrastructure, fintech, AI, eSports, and digital marketing. Delegates included the Ministry of Economic Development, Blue NAP Americas, Fuego Studios, RAC, CHATA, We Flourish, Quality, NXT Digital Agency, Nicolaas Consulting, Ilustre, and others. Government stakeholders and diaspora professionals based in the Netherlands also joined the activation.
A highlight of the Curaçao Pavilion was the FIFA eSports Championship, hosted by Fuego Studios in partnership with CINEX. The tournament was a crowd favorite at TNW, culminating in the selection of a grand prize winner who received a 7-day trip to Curaçao, sponsored by Corendon and Papagayo Curaçao. The tournament demonstrated the island’s potential to lead in gaming and digital entertainment.
“This activation at TNW 2025 is part of our shared commitment with CINEX to put Curaçao on the map as a serious destination for Esports, digital talent, and content creation,” said Jeff Macolonie, Founder of Fuego. “It is a direct follow-up on the recently signed Memorandum of Understanding between Fuego and CINEX, and we are proud to see it already generating international traction.”
Other key moments during the TNW week included:
The launch of the ‘Curaçao Meets Tech’ podcast, produced by CINEX, which will be distributed on TNW and CINEX channels;
A Diaspora Tech Mixer at Ngrane HQ, attended by over 105 Curaçaoan professionals in tech and innovation fields;
A reception hosted by the deputy Mayor of Amsterdam at the Amsterdam City Archives co-attended by CHATA and CINEX in celebration of Amsterdam’s 750th anniversary and TNW.
A Curaçao Investors Cocktail event in partnership with TNW in collaboration with the Curaçao Tourist Board.
“TNW 2025 served as a high-impact platform for Curaçao to present itself as an agile, export-ready digital hub,” said Miles Mercera, CEO of CINEX. “Our focus on connecting capital, talent, and diaspora is core to CINEX’s role in building a more resilient and innovation-driven economy for the island.”
CINEX will continue follow-up efforts with leads and potential investors identified during TNW, and is actively exploring expanded participation for TNW 2026, including standalone Curaçao-branded activations.
