Page 7 - AHATA

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LOCAL Monday 6 February 2023

Financial aid for the primary sector

ORANJESTAD - The Minis- and Minister Geoffrey Wev- individual loans of Awg.
try of Transport, Integrity, er see the opportunities 5000,- to Awg. 200.000,- at
Nature and Elderly Affairs, to elevate the agriculture a reduced interest rate of
together with the Ministry sector and make this a vital 2%. Qredits Microfinancier-
of Economic Affairs, Com- part of our economy as a ing will use Aruba as a mod-
munication, and Sustain- food and essential product el for future projects within
able Development, signed provider for our commu- the Dutch Kingdom. In ad-
an agreement with Qredits nity. Therefore they devel- dition to Agri-Loan, Qredits
Microfinanciering to launch oped the Agri-Loan system has collaborated with the
Agri-Loan. to address the financial Government of Aruba to
challenges of farmers and launch Agri-Business Acad-
For farmers, the challenges provide incentives to con- emy. The course focuses on
to starting an agricultural tribute to the primary sector business management and for this course. their collaboration in mak-
business depend on the step by step. financial plans adapted ing these funds available
climate, land, knowledge, The Agri-Loan will create a specifically to local farm- The Government of Aruba and for contributing to the
finance, and production 3 million florins fund for local ers. There will be an oppor- is very grateful to Qredits agriculture sector and our
cost. Minister Ursell Arends farmers. This fund provides tunity for farmers to register and the entire team for future food safety.q

Task Force installed for improving air travel in the Dutch Caribbean

Shaping and implementing the shared vision of the DCCA

ORANJESTAD – On No- taining to the end goal;
vember 7, 2022, the his- 4. Recommendations on
toric milestone of signing how to make interisland
a Memorandum of Under- travel more affordable for
standing (MOU) between the public.
Dutch Caribbean islands,
the Netherlands, the six The progress of the Task
airports of the Dutch Carib- Force will be overseen
bean and the Dutch Asso- by a Progress Commit-
ciation of Airports was cel- tee, which will consist of
ebrated. the Kingdom Countries
Aviation Steering Group
This MOU formalizes a com- (‘Regiegroep Luchtvaart
mitment of this partnership voor de Koninkrijkslanden’)
to explore and establish and the CEO’s of the
affordable, efficient, and DCCA airports. The Dutch
sustainable air connectivity such all islands of the Dutch innovation center for sus- Civil Airports Association
between Curacao, Aruba, The Task Force will include Kingdom are duly repre- tainable aviation, to stimu- (‘Nederlandse Vereniging
St. Maarten, Bonaire, St. aviation experts and pro- sented and will be working late and facilitate the use van Luchthavens’) will also
Eustatius, and Saba and, fessionals with at its core on reaching the end goal of zero emission powered appoint a representative in
more specifically, to ex- Mrs. Marieke Smit (Royal of the MOU signed back in flights for air connectivity the Progress Committee.
plore and stimulate the use Schiphol Group) as Pro- November of 2022. between these islands;
of emission-free powered gram Manager, Mrs. Suzy 2. Possibilities, means and Joost Meijs, CEO of Aruba
flights to operate the afore- Kartokromo (St. Maarten Task Force deliverables measures to achieve a Airport Authority N.V. and
mentioned air connectivity. Airport) as assistant Pro- Before the end of 2023, smooth, seamless and ef- chairman of the DCCA: “It
gram Manager, Mrs. Jo- this Task Force will deliver ficient flow of passengers is great to see that collec-
DCCA Task Force Anne Meaux-Arends (Aru- a Joint Strategic Plan with, on interisland flights at the tively we have been able to
As agreed in the MOU, all ba Airport) and Mrs. Peggy besides a clear indication airports of the CAS and BES define a strong Task Force
CEO’s of the DCCA (Dutch Croes (Curacao Airport), how to reach the end goal islands, including easing with aviation professionals
Cooperation of Caribbean both for business develop- of a more affordable, effi- the entry/exit requirements from the Caribbean and
Airports) recently deter- ment, Mrs. Christine Dries- cient and sustainable inter- by use of biometrics and international world. I am
mined the constellation sen (Bonaire Airport) for air- island connectivity network digital identification tech- convinced that together
of the Task Force. This Task port infrastructure/charg- with a concrete timeline nological advancements and with the support of all
Force will be tasked with ing stations and standards, and milestones, the follow- or otherwise; islands and countries of the
developing a Joint Strate- and Mr.Vishal Oedjaghir ing deliverables: 3. Recommendations on Dutch Kingdom we will im-
gic Plan (JSP) for improving (St Eustatius Airport/Saba 1. The feasibility and estab- necessary changes of laws, prove the interisland con-
the interisland connectivity. Airport) as PSO expert. As lishment of an interisland regulations and policy per- nectivity in all aspects”.q