This week, a series of important meetings concerning Aruba are taking place in Washington, DC. A delegation from Aruba, led by Minister of Finance Geoffrey Wever, is present in the U.S. capital to participate in important discussions on the island’s economic and financial outlook. Our 24ora.com team is also on-site, following the delegation closely.
Alongside Minister Wever are Aruba’s Minister Plenipotentiary in Washington, Zulema Dabian-Erasmus, the Director of the Department of Economic Affairs, and representatives from the Department of Finance.
Upon his arrival in Washington, Minister Wever gave his first official statement. He shared that this is his first time attending the Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and expressed his enthusiasm: “I’m excited about the opportunity.”
The week ahead is expected to be intense. The first meeting begins at 8:00 am on Tuesday, with a full schedule continuing throughout the week. The delegation will engage in discussions with the IMF, the World Bank, and several key international investors who provide financial support to Aruba.
While the agenda covers a wide range of topics, financial matters will be the primary focus.
Minister Wever noted that this visit will take a different approach. As the newly appointed Minister of Finance, he finds it essential to introduce himself to key stakeholders. Given recent global economic developments, it is especially important that both the Department of Economic Affairs and the Department of Finance are involved in these conversations.
During the meetings, the IMF will present its latest World Economic Outlook, offering insight into global and U.S. trends. These projections are significant for Aruba, as the country imports approximately 50% of its goods from the United States. The delegation will also closely monitor developments related to U.S. loans, making Aruba’s presence at this time particularly relevant.
Minister Plenipotentiary Zulema Dabian-Erasmus explained that the IMF holds two major meetings annually. Her role is to coordinate and support the minister’s workweek in Washington, arranging meetings and ensuring a productive visit. She noted that this is one of the largest delegations to date.
The preparation process went smoothly. This marks the third time such a trip has been organized—previously for ministers of other portfolios, and now for the new Minister of Finance. The week was carefully planned based on the minister’s priorities.
The meetings will continue through Friday, and the delegation is expected to return to Aruba on Saturday. This visit is the first official international trip by a minister from the newly sworn-in AVP-Futuro Cabinet, which took office on March 28th.
