Minister of Finance, Economic Affairs, and the Primary Sector, Geoffrey Wever, together with Santa Rosa, participated in the annual conference of the Dutch Caribbean Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Alliance (DCALFA) in Sint Maarten. The conference, held from May 25 to 29, 2026, brought together government officials and experts from all six Dutch Caribbean islands: Aruba, Curaçao, Bonaire, Sint Maarten, Saba, and Sint Eustatius.
DCALFA aims to strengthen regional cooperation in the primary sector while promoting proactive initiatives that contribute to food security, sustainable production, and economic resilience across the islands.
Food imports remain one of Aruba’s biggest challenges. Current figures show that 99% of all food products consumed on the island are imported. Every day, Aruba must provide food for more than 100,000 people, including residents and tourists. At the same time, global crises, supply chain disruptions, and natural disasters continue to highlight the risks tied to this dependence on imports.
Despite these challenges, opportunities are emerging within the local agricultural sector. Aruba currently has 74 commercial local producers, demonstrating that entrepreneurs in the primary sector possess the experience and knowledge needed to work together with the government to strengthen the sector as an important pillar of the economy.
Minister Geoffrey Wever’s policy to strengthen the primary sector is already being implemented through several initiatives. One of these is the Agri Business Academy, created in collaboration with Qredits Aruba. Since 2023, the program has trained 60 agricultural entrepreneurs, providing aspiring business owners with the knowledge and tools needed to establish their own agricultural enterprises.
Another important initiative is the Agri Loan program, which offers attractive financing opportunities for local producers. The program provides loans at just 2% interest to stimulate local production. Since 2023, a total of 16 loans worth AWG 2.43 million have been approved. These funds supported six chicken farms and 10 vegetable producers, mainly lettuce growers.
Increasing local egg production has also become a major priority. Aruba is on track to increase local egg production from 15.4% to 93.8%. Land has already been allocated for two new large-scale chicken farms, while legislation regulating imports and pricing is currently being developed. According to the government, these measures represent a historic shift for the island.
As part of the Agripreneurial Development Program, construction of Aruba’s first Agri-Innovation Park (AIP) is another key component of the government’s vision for the primary sector. The modern facility will include 9,000 square meters of cultivation area and focus on producing high-quality tomatoes. The AIP is expected to produce between 513,000 and 552,600 kilograms of tomatoes annually.
Currently, Aruba imports approximately 1.2 million kilograms of tomatoes each year. The AIP is expected to significantly reduce this dependence. During Phase A of the project, within the next five years, Aruba aims to achieve between 42% and 46% tomato self-sufficiency.
The Agri-Innovation Park will also include a Center of Excellence dedicated to agricultural research, training, and technology demonstrations. New and existing farmers will have access to international-level coaching, support, and professional training.
Regional cooperation remains another essential pillar of Aruba’s strategy for strengthening the primary sector. Through DCALFA, the islands continue working together on initiatives aimed at improving food security, sustainable production, and economic resilience throughout the Dutch Caribbean.
During the conference, Aruba, Curaçao, Bonaire, Sint Maarten, Saba, and Sint Eustatius renewed their collective commitment by signing an updated Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Minister Wever joined fellow ministers from the participating islands in reaffirming their shared commitment to regional collaboration under the DCALFA framework.
The renewed MoU goes beyond a symbolic agreement. It will serve as the strategic and organizational foundation for regional cooperation under the DCALFA Roadmap 2025–2035. The agreement focuses on structured implementation, measurable progress, and long-term impact, creating a framework with clear accountability and concrete action plans.
At the 2025 conference in Bonaire, Aruba had already signed a historic regional roadmap alongside the sister islands. The renewal of the MoU during this year’s conference further strengthens cooperation and reinforces the islands’ shared commitment to achieving tangible results.
Since 2022, the DCALFA alliance has promoted the sharing of data, strategies, and expertise among the six Dutch Caribbean islands to strengthen the region collectively.
According to Minister Geoffrey Wever, participation in DCALFA gives Aruba the opportunity to present its vision and implementation strategy for a modern, innovative, and resilient primary sector while maintaining close ministerial dialogue with Curaçao, Bonaire, Sint Maarten, Saba, and Sint Eustatius.
