ORANJESTAD, Aruba — The Aruba Holland House Partnership will continue through 2027 as the government seeks to attract Colombian investment, support Aruban companies and strengthen commercial connections between the two markets.
Minister of Finance, Economic Affairs and Primary Sector Geoffrey Wever announced the extension of the cooperation agreement with Holland House Colombia, formally known as the Colombian-Dutch Chamber of Commerce.
The renewed programme covers 2026 and 2027 and forms part of Aruba’s wider policy of strengthening economic relations with neighbouring countries.
Trade Office Will Remain in Bogotá
Under the extended cooperation, Aruba will retain its Trade and Investment Office inside Holland House Colombia.
The office is fully equipped and visibly identified as an Aruban business and investment contact point. It can also provide temporary workspace for Aruban entrepreneurs travelling to Colombia for meetings, market research or trade missions.
The Aruba Trade and Investment Office originally opened in 2023 during the island’s first official trade mission to Colombia.
According to the government, the office has since developed into an important contact point for Aruban companies and investors interested in exploring opportunities in Colombia.
Holland House Provides Local Business Support
Holland House Colombia will continue providing the Ministry of Economic Affairs with four hours of professional support each week.
This arrangement gives Aruba access to local market knowledge and commercial assistance without requiring the government to establish and operate a separate legal organisation in Colombia.
Support may include market research, identifying potential partners, business development, commercial matchmaking and assistance with trade events.
The partnership also gives Aruban businesses access to Holland House Colombia’s wider professional network.
Network Includes More Than 500 Companies
Holland House Colombia announced in April that its membership had exceeded 500 companies.
Its network includes Colombian, Dutch and Caribbean businesses, including companies connected to Aruba, Curaçao and the Caribbean Netherlands.
The organisation maintains operations and business connections through Bogotá, Medellín and Barranquilla and offers consulting, coworking, membership and networking services.
Access to this network can help Aruban entrepreneurs identify suppliers, distributors, investment partners and specialised professional services in Colombia.
Work Plan Focuses on Investment and Exports
The 2026–2027 work plan contains several economic objectives.
The partnership will seek to:
- Attract Colombian companies and investors to Aruba;
- Position Aruba as a strategic hub for the Caribbean and Latin America;
- Assist international companies considering Aruba as a business location;
- Improve the competitiveness of Aruban companies entering Colombia;
- Identify new export opportunities;
- Organise trade missions, seminars and business meetings;
- Facilitate logistical cooperation between Aruba and Colombia.
The programme is intended to support commercial activity in both directions rather than focusing exclusively on Colombian exports to Aruba.
Aruba Promoted as Regional Business Hub
The government wants to position Aruba as a location from which companies can serve markets across the Caribbean and Latin America.
The island’s location, political stability, infrastructure and connections within the Kingdom of the Netherlands may provide opportunities for businesses seeking a regional base.
Through Holland House, potential investors can receive information about Aruba’s market, investment conditions and available business opportunities.
Aruban companies can also use the same cooperation to investigate demand, regulations and potential partners in Colombia.
Colombian Exports to Aruba Increased
Recent Holland House data indicates that trade activity between the two markets has been increasing.
Based on Colombian national statistics, exports from Colombia to Aruba rose by 182% during the first four months of 2026 compared with the same period in 2025.
The reported value increased from approximately US$9.9 million to more than US$33 million, driven mainly by manufactured products.
Holland House highlighted non-alcoholic beverages, coffee extracts and sawn wood among the products contributing to trade during that period.
These figures cover Colombian exports to Aruba and do not represent the total value of all trade between the two markets.
Partnership Has Produced Business Connections
Holland House has previously helped Aruban companies identify potential Colombian suppliers.
One example involved Aruba Wine & Dine, which worked with the chamber to locate a supplier capable of providing manufactured and agricultural food products.
The company imported a container of products from Colombia in June 2026 after receiving assistance during the supplier-identification and purchasing process.
Holland House has also supported Colombian agricultural associations seeking commercial connections in Aruba, including producers of speciality coffee and panela products.
Government Links Trade to Cost of Living
Wever said stronger commercial connections could give Aruban businesses access to additional suppliers and products at more competitive prices.
The government hopes increased competition and improved logistics will eventually provide consumers with more choices and help reduce pressure on Aruba’s cost of living.
However, extending the agreement does not guarantee immediate reductions in retail prices.
Final consumer prices will continue to depend on factors such as transportation, import duties, storage, distribution costs, international prices and retailer margins.
Local Companies Encouraged to Explore Colombia
The Aruba Holland House Partnership is intended to assist businesses that may not have enough resources or market knowledge to enter Colombia independently.
An Aruban entrepreneur can use the office and Holland House network to research the market, arrange meetings and identify potential commercial partners.
Businesses should still conduct their own financial, regulatory and legal assessments before signing contracts or making investments.
The partnership provides access and professional support, but individual companies remain responsible for determining whether an opportunity is commercially suitable.
Cooperation Extended Through 2027
The government described the continuation of the agreement as an investment in Aruba’s economic future.
Maintaining a presence in Bogotá gives the island an ongoing connection to one of its closest and most important regional markets.
Through the Aruba Holland House Partnership, officials intend to support local business growth, attract investment, discover new export opportunities and strengthen logistics between Aruba and Colombia through the end of 2027.
