Category: News

A thorough analysis by the BES Chamber of Commerce has shown that – compared to the situation in May 2020 – circumstances have changed to such an extent that an adjustment of the basic rate is justified. Based on this updated estimate, the basic rate has been reduced from USD 80 to USD 60 retroactive to 1 January 2022. During the year, the effect of the proposed change will be monitored by both entrepreneurs and the Chambers and, if there is reason to do so, a new decision will be made about the basic rate for subsequent years.

You can find all fees and tariffs here.

Why this adjustment?

In response to concerns expressed by the Chamber of Commerce and the feedback provided by individual entrepreneurs and business representatives with regard to the level of the new annual contribution rates and given that some time has elapsed since the new basic rate was established, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy and the BES Chambers of Commerce and Industry (hereinafter referred to as: the Chambers) have re-examined the principles and parameters underlying the determination of the new basic rate.

The calculations used to determine the basic rate of USD 80 were made in May 2020 at the time of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. At that time, it was not clear what the support measures would entail and what their effect would be. Additionally, the determination was based on a lower average increase in annual registrations, an increase in the number of companies closing down and a rise in bankruptcies filed -due to the COVID-19 pandemic- compared to previous years.

Difference with European Netherlands

We have received a lot of feedback noting the difference between the Caribbean Netherlands and the European Netherlands, where the annual contribution for the commercial register was discontinued as of 2013. At that time this was done in order to compensate for tax measures that had caused entrepreneurs to pay more taxes. As a result -in effect- European Netherlands entrepreneurs continued to pay for being registered in the commercial register. It is important for the Chambers of Commerce to be independent in nature in order to be able to perform their specific tasks properly. For this reason, an annual contribution for the Chambers of Commerce in the Caribbean Netherlands will continue to be legislated.

Have you paid too much?

Organizations that have already paid the annual contribution to the Chambers or that have newly registered during 2022 will receive a refund of any excess paid. The Chambers will actively address all such cases. Invoices for the annual contribution for the year 2022 will be sent out no later than May 2022.

We are working hard on making Online Business Registry available on this website. Unfortunately, due to technical challenges, this is taking longer than expected. For now, viewing, changing and registering businesses and companies is only possible at our offices on St Eustatius and Saba. Please contact them directly for any questions and inquiries you may have. You can find all forms here.

We apologize for the the inconvenience this may cause.

As of January 11, 2022, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry St Eustatius & Saba, has welcomed two new Board members: Jamila Bennett-Lijfrock and Vaughn Sams. At the same time, Hemmie van Xanten (Saba) was appointed as President and Leonieke Zuiddam (Statia) was appointed as Vice-President.

The Board of the Chamber of Commerce in its new form is willing to work hard to give the best service to the Statia and Saba community. Soon, new strategies will be implemented to service the business sector as best as possible. There is a lot of work to be done, a lot to communicate and the Chamber is here to support the community.

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry St Eustatius & Saba has a new logo. Soon, also a new website will be launched introducing the online business registry. This will make it easy for people to register, change or close their business without having to visit the Chamber offices.

Expo Jamaica has been evolving for the past 43 years to be the Caribbean’s premier trade show. Over time, the show has become the hub for authentic, high quality products and services from Jamaica’s expansive resources and talents. If you are interested this can be a great opportunity for your business.

You can find more information about this trade show the Brochure on Expo Jamaica 2016

January 17th in Statia and January 19th in Saba has been historical days for both islands. For many years the business community has been looking out for this day to have our own Chamber of Commerce. No longer are we obliged by law to register our companies in St. Maarten. I as the dirst chariman, rogether with the other members of the Board of the Chamber and our staff, will fo our utmost best to build up a strong and reliable Chamber. The first and maybe the most important part for us is to get a reliable and up to date Commercial Registry, where all businesses and NGO’s will be properly registered. It is the itention, with the assistance of the Curacao Chamber of Commerce, to get this registry online together with our website. Everyone will then be able to view the registry and any other information we will have available for you on the website. This information will range from how to set up a business to what kind of subsidy possibilities there maybe for you business.

The Chamber will get busy in supplying any kind of information that may be interesting for your business or organization. We will get involved in trade missions and trade shows. We will also be very vocal on all matters that are in the interest of the business community in general. As one of our main roles is to advise government, it is our intention to bring any matter that in one way or the other effects the business sector to the attention of the relevant government agencies and suggest and negotiate solutions or make proposals.

We are also always open for suggestions from you as part of the business sector as well. Your input and concerns will also give us the tools to operate in a most effective manner.

This is our first newsletter. The intention of this periodic newsletter is to inform and educate the business community. Your comments with the goal to improve the information to you, are highly appreciated. It is our sincere intention to serve you, the business communities of Statia and Saba.

Koos Sneek
Chairman

Op woensdag 7 december 2011 heeft de Statia & Saba Kamer van Koophandel en Nijverheid verkiezingen gehouden voor een nieuw bestuur. Middels deze Press Release worden de resultaten van deze verkiezing bekend gemaakt. De resultaten zijn als volgt.

St. Eustatius: R.J. Hooker (31 votes), C.C. Berkel (23 votes), E.M. Schmidt (11 votes), N. Sneek (27 votes) en C.A. Tearr (38 votes).

De 3 nieuwe bestuursleden van Statia zijn dus Hooker, Tearr en Sneek.

Saba: B. Alkema-Schroeter (23 votes), S.A. Heilbron (23 votes) en M.P. Job (24 votes).

De 2 nieuwe bestuursleden van Saba zijn Job en Heilbron. Heilbron en Alkema-Schroeter hadden even veel votes en Heilbron is volgens de regels verkozen via een loting.

St. Eustatius is affectionately called Statia by residents and visitors to the island. The strategic geographic position of Statia has long influenced its role in international trade. Such was the level of prosperity at the end of the 18th century that the island earned the nickname “The Golden Rock”.

Today, Statia plays a major role as an important trans-shipment port for oil from the Arabian Gulf, Africa and Venezuela to oil importing and consuming states. Since October 10, 2010 Statia has undergone exciting developmental changes and is improving its institutional arrangements to allow us to respond with greater efficiency to persons and companies expressing interest in establishing business ventures on the island.

The Government of St. Eustatius is actively pursuing investors in the tourism, service and light industry sectors. Among others, Statia has opportunities for:
– Small clean industries
– Hotel development
– Freezone opportunities
– Marina development
– Cruise port expansion
– Airport expansion

Some of the opportunities for investors are:
– Governmet lease land
– Joint Venture opportunities
– Government incentives
– Several economic sectors remain untapped
– Multi-ethnic bilingual community
– Untapped intra-Caribbean market
– Dutch Caribbean programme in Europe
– Easy access European Common Market

Why Invest in Statia?
St. Eustatius offers potential investors:
– Genuinely friendly people
– Peace & tranquility
– Relatively low crime
– Close proximity to St.Maarten
– Stable government
– A multi-ethnic multi-lingual community

You are invited to consider Statia as your next opportunity for business and look forward to welcoming you on the island. For more information on investment opportunties in St. Eustatius please e-mail us at invest@statiagov.com

Bent u een innovatieve ondernemer die technologisch hoogwaardige producten en diensten levert en wilt u zakendoen of bestaande zaken uitbreiden in Florida, de Verenigde Staten en/of Latijns Amerika? Ga dan van 17 tot en met 20 april mee met de economische missie naar Miami, Verenigde Staten. De missie staat onder leiding van plaatsvervangend directeur generaal Guido Landheer. Minister van Economische Ontwikkeling van Curaçao, Eugene Rhuggenaath, neemt deel aan het programma op 18 en 20 april.

Miami toegangspoort naar VS en Latijns Amerika
Miami is de toegangspoort tot Latijns Amerika. Steeds meer Latijns-Amerikaanse en Europese bedrijven hebben hier hun hoofdkantoor gevestigd en doen er zaken. Meer en meer technologische bedrijven uit Amerika vestigen zich in Zuid-Florida. Miami is dan ook met recht de ‘technologie-hub’ voor Latijns-Amerika.

eMerge Americas
De missie valt samen met de handelsbeurs eMerge Americas. eMerge Americas heeft een grote uitstraling over de regio op het gebied van technologie en innovatie voor zowel start-ups als gevestigde ondernemingen en investeerders. Nederland is aanwezig met een Holland Paviljoen.

De eMerge Americas vindt op 18 en 19 april plaats in Miami. De focus van eMerge ligt op technologische ontwikkelingen in de gezondheidszorg, onderwijs, entertainment, de financiële sector, media en overheid. eMerge is een smeltkroes van bedrijven die zowel in Latijns Amerika als in de VS actief (willen) zijn.

Deze missie biedt u de gelegenheid om in contact te komen met potentiële (zaken)partners in Miami, Florida en ‘the Americas’. De betrokkenheid van de Nederlandse vertegenwoordiging in de VS geeft u een uitgelezen kans om op hoog niveau contacten te leggen en ideeën en informatie uit te wisselen.

Focus van de missie
De missie focust op de thema’s life sciences and health (LSH) en smart cities, belangrijke maatschappelijke thema’s in de VS en Latijns Amerika, die goed aansluiten bij de kracht van het Nederlandse bedrijfsleven.

De volgende kansen hebben we geïdentificeerd:

• Life Sciences and Health

Al sinds 1950 heeft Miami flink geïnvesteerd in het ondernemersklimaat van de biomedische sector, hetzij in medische apparaten of farmaceutische bedrijven. Vandaag de dag kan Miami-Dade zich de thuisbasis noemen van meer dan 8,000 LSH bedrijven waaronder de industriële leiders zoals Beckman Coulter, BD Biosciences, Cordis (een Johnson & Johnson bedrijf) en Merck. Er zijn vele kansen voor Nederlandse bedrijven actief in de farmaceutische en medische instrumenten sector bijvoorbeeld om te partneren met de vele Healthcare providers (o.a. Baptist Healthcare, Jackson Memorial Hospital, Miami Childrens Hospital), medische industrie en medische IT bedrijven.

• Smart Cities

Smart Cities is een opkomende thema in Miami. Voor Florida en met name Zuid-Florida wordt de onbetwistbare relatie tussen duurzame ontwikkeling en de economie erkend (circulaire economie). Er wordt volop geïnvesteerd in een gezonde en veerkrachtige cleantech industrie, met specifieke nadruk op energie, efficiëntie, milieu- en water gerelateerde technologieën, inclusief oplossingen die bescherming bieden tegen de zeespiegelstijging. Nederlandse technologieën kunnen hierbij van toegevoegde waarde zijn.

• Vrouwelijke ondernemers actief in de technologie

Er wordt op eMerge Americas specifiek aandacht besteed aan ‘Women in Technology’. Vrouwelijke ondernemers die actief zijn in Technologie worden daarom aangemoedigd om mee te gaan.

Bedrijvenprogramma
De Nederlandse kennis en kunde op gebied van innovatie wordt onder leiding van Guido Landheer op verschillende manieren gepresenteerd. Er vindt matchmaking plaats via het matchmakingssysteem van de eMerge. Ook zullen ontmoetingen met potentiële (zaken)partners worden gefaciliteerd. Bedrijfsbezoeken zijn tevens een onderdeel van het programma.

Bedrijven en kennisinstellingen kunnen tevens van het bezoek gebruik maken om bijvoorbeeld contracten of MoU’s te ondertekenen. Deelnemers worden in de gelegenheid gesteld om hun bestaande zakelijke relaties uit te nodigen voor netwerkevenementen en een handelsdiner.