ORANJESTAD (AAN):
The Minister of Finance, Economic Affairs, and the Primary Sector, Mr. Geoffrey Wever, announced that as of January 1, 2026, the new regulation governing permitted service activities within Aruba’s Free Zone has officially come into force. This marks a strategic and well-calculated step in strengthening Aruba’s economic model and enhancing its international credibility.
The new regulation introduces a positive list of service activities that are allowed to operate within the Free Zone, in line with legislative changes introduced in 2020 to comply with international standards set by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). This positive list serves as a modern economic management tool, ensuring clarity, transparency, and strict compliance with international norms.
The selection of permitted activities was carried out with great care. The primary focus was to avoid any negative impact on Aruba’s existing tax revenues that fall under the standard corporate income tax regime. For this reason, the regulation allows only activities that are not physically conducted in Aruba, or only to a very limited extent, while benefiting from the reduced corporate income tax rate of 2% applicable within the Free Zone.
With the introduction of the positive list, Aruba positions its Free Zone as a competitive, reliable, and internationally compliant instrument, capable of attracting serious investors and innovative companies, including start-ups seeking a stable, transparent, and attractive legal environment. This measure strengthens the investment climate and creates room for sustainable economic growth.
At the same time, the regulation directly contributes to the diversification of the Aruban economy by expanding the range of economic activities and creating new opportunities for local professionals. This is expected to result in the creation of high-level jobs, strengthening of local expertise, and a structural increase in tax revenues, both from new businesses and from an expanding workforce.
According to Minister Wever, the introduction of the positive list demonstrates Aruba’s ability to combine fiscal discipline, international compliance, and economic ambition within a coherent policy framework.
“We are building an economy that is resilient, diversified, and prepared for the future, without compromising the integrity of our tax system,” Minister Wever stated.
Through this regulation, Aruba reaffirms its commitment to good governance, international cooperation, and responsible economic development based on vision and comprehensive strategic planning.
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