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local Friday 16 September 2022

Minister of Economic Affairs announces introduction of Aruba Fair

Trade Authority

ORANJESTAD – “As minister lands approved the project explained that more than trade authority, and this the countries’ economies.
of Economic Affairs, today and allocated funds – Afl. 125 countries have a fair brings positive effects to
I have the honor and plea- 620,000 – for the implemen-
sure to inform the people of tation of AFTA, and also
Aruba that the fair compe- made available for Aruba
tition authority for Aruba’s an expert on fair trade, Mr.
economy, Aruba Fair Trade Albert Scholten.
Authority, is a reality”, min- Mr. Scholten will be in
ister Geoffrey Wever said charge of implementing
yesterday morning during AFTA and guiding the lo-
a press conference an- cal professionals to set up
nouncing this very impor- AFTA.
tant development for Aru- Mr. Scholten has a lot of ex-
ba. perience in fair trade, both
in the Netherlands and in
Minister Wever said that, Curaçao, “and I think we
just as every expert who are lucky to have the pro-
contributed to the process, fessional support of Mr.
he is convinced that Aruba Scholten”, according to
Fair Trade Authority (AFTA) Wever.
will bring important and
structural changes to our Wever said that since 2019,
economy, businessmen, the Department of Eco-
and every citizen. nomic Affairs travelled to
the Netherlands to visit the
AFTA is a legal entity based fair trade authority there, to
on law. Its main task is to find out if introduction of a
create a level of fair, free similar law in Aruba would
and unrestricted competi- benefit our economy. The
tion for every company in result of this showed that
Aruba, stimulating invest- the fair trade law will have
ment in general. AFTA will benefits for the local econ-
contribute to better prices omy, will promote invest-
for products and services, ment through fair, free and
better choices for products limitless competition for
and services, and better every local enterprise. “So
products and services for after a long journey, the
our consumers. law was also approved in
the Parliamento of Aruba”,
Most developed countries Wever added.
in the world already have
an entity like AFTA which “Recently, as part of the
prevents consumer abuse. economic reforms which
Now the citizens of Aruba form part of the Country
can also be proud and Package [terms and con-
happy that our island also ditions agreed with the
has its fair trade authority in Netherlands in exchange
AFTA, according to Wever. for financial support during
the Covid-19 pandemic],
As minister of Economic Af- Aruba managed that since
fairs, Wever indicated that 2021 this project was a pri-
he will be the person in ority, which allowed us to
charge of managing AFTA, accelerate the implemen-
but AFTA is an independent tation of AFTA.”
body based on law, and is
in charge of implementa- Wever introduced the
tion and supervision of the team leading AFTA, Mr.
fair trade authority law. Albert Scholten, Mrs.
Amanda Maduro and Mrs.
“We all know that Aruba is Carondina Leijdekkers.
going through financial dif-
ficulty”, Wever said. “But Mr. Scholten gave a de-
even so, the government of tailed presentation on
Aruba saw the importance AFTA. He highlighted that
of AFTA and decided to al- AFTA will bring a lot of ben-
locate funds to make this a efits to the consumer, en-
reality.” He also highlighted terprises and the economy,
“the important role of the and that small and open
Netherlands in this pro- economies do benefit from
cess”, because the Nether- a body like AFTA. Scholten