Minister Geoffrey Wever, alongside Santa Rosa, represented Aruba at the annual Dutch Caribbean Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Alliance (DCALFA) conference in Sint Maarten. Held from May 25 to 29, 2026, the gathering brought together officials and experts from Aruba, Curaçao, Bonaire, Sint Maarten, Saba, and Sint Eustatius to strengthen regional cooperation in the primary sector.
Minister Wever highlighted that Aruba currently imports 99% of the food products it consumes to feed more than 100,000 residents and tourists daily. While dependence on imports presents risks, the government views the situation as an opportunity to empower the 74 local commercial producers. Initiatives such as the Agri Business Academy, created in collaboration with Qredits Aruba, have already trained 60 agricultural entrepreneurs since 2023.
To further stimulate production, the Agri Loan program offers financing at a 2% interest rate.
