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Background - Curaçao, Netherlands Antilles:
 The Netherlands Antilles consists of a
group of five islands located in the Caribbean Sea.
As a part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, this group has long enjoyed a stable political
climate and one of the highest standards of living in the Caribbean region.
The principal
island is Curaçao with a population of approximately 130,000 and a highly developed infrastructure.
Strategically located just off the coast of Venezuela, Curaçao is accessible both by air and sea;
this makes the island a suitable center for trade between Europe and the Americas. While oil
refining and tourism provide its main sources of income, over the years Curaçao has also experienced
constant growth in its offshore financial activities.
The island compares favorably in diversity and
depth of service with the many offshore centers that have sprung up over the last 30 years in the
Caribbean region since it has a wide network of banks and a strong communications foundation.
Curaçao offers all the usual bells and whistles of offshore centers; it provides an attractive
tax climate for offshore companies and there are no exchange controls on such activities.
Its friendly, multi-lingual people (English and Spanish are among the four major languages
spoken on the island) provide customer service with business-like efficiency.
As of January 1, 2002, there were more that 20,000 offshore companies registered with the Curaçao
Chamber of Commerce. Of these, approximately 1,400 new registrations took place during the past
two years, a strong indication that Curaçao is a highly favorable environment for offshore operations.
The continued influx of new companies on the island reflects the need for high-quality service providers.
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