THE HAGUE – During his recent visit to the Netherlands, Curaçao’s Minister of Economic Development (MEO), Roderick Middelhof, held his first official meeting with Sandor Gaastra, Secretary-General of the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs (EZ), and Gerdine Keijzer-Balde, the newly appointed Secretary-General of the Dutch Ministry of Climate and Green Growth (KGG).
The discussions focused on a range of critical economic topics and future development plans for Curaçao, with a particular emphasis on sustainable energy and the Netherlands’ support for Curaçao’s transition to a greener, more resilient energy infrastructure. A key topic was Curaçao’s hydrogen energy chain program, which is seen as a central pillar of the island’s energy transformation.
The meeting provided Minister Middelhof with an excellent opportunity to formally introduce himself and engage in dialogue on areas of mutual interest. With the energy transition program having recently shifted from the Ministry of Economic Affairs (EZ) to the Ministry of Climate and Green Growth (KGG), Middelhof expressed his gratitude to Mr. Gaastra for his continued support of the hydrogen program.
At the start of the current Dutch government’s term (now in a caretaker phase), the Energy Fund, initially set at €200 million, was significantly reduced, and Curaçao was excluded from the remaining allocations. However, last year, EZ made €1 million available, and following discussions with Minister Middelhof, the Netherlands has now allocated an additional €4 million for necessary feasibility studies related to the development of the "Maritime Wind Park"—a project vital to Curaçao’s sustainable future. Middelhof thanked Mr. Gaastra for his commitment to this initiative.
The Minister described the talks as open and constructive, exploring how both EZ and KGG can assist Curaçao in developing and implementing solutions in areas such as renewable energy, transition management, and industry development. These goals align with Middelhof’s broader vision of diversifying Curaçao’s economic structure while protecting the island’s vulnerable environment in the face of climate change.
Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to ongoing cooperation on these vital issues, recognizing their shared objectives in promoting economic stability and environmental stewardship. More details on the specific initiatives discussed are expected to be released soon by Curaçao’s Ministry of Economic Development.
