Curaçao Hosts 2-Day Kansas City Pitch for U.S. Investors After World Cup Breakthrough
Updated
Updated · POLITICO · Jun 20
Curaçao Hosts 2-Day Kansas City Pitch for U.S. Investors After World Cup Breakthrough
3 articles · Updated · POLITICO · Jun 20
Summary
Curaçao officials used a two-day conference in Kansas City to court American investors, turning the island’s World Cup debut into a business showcase.
The push began after November qualification, when ministers decided to capitalize on the attention with events in World Cup cities organized with investment agency CINEX.
Officials pitched sectors beyond tourism — including energy, logistics and hospitality — and highlighted Curaçao’s expanding deep-water port as a storage and cargo hub, including for oil.
Tourism still matters: the government is targeting 1 million stay-over visitors a year while trying to broaden demand beyond its traditional Dutch visitor base.
For the island of about 158,000 people north of Venezuela, ministers say World Cup exposure has already lifted Google searches and social-media interest, strengthening the case that Curaçao is open for business.