Bonaire offers a stable political environment as part of the Dutch kingdom; it is also a step stone to the Caribbean, South America, USA and Europe with many business opportunities. Bonaire offers, in comparison to the region, a fully developed infrastructure, an attractive investment climate and a favorable tax structure. Bonaire has a well-educated work force and is also a pleasant place to live.

Financing:
Maduro & Curiel’s Bank (MCB) is the largest bank on the island. Starting from a corner office on the main street, the Bank has experienced a steady growth over the years, and with the opening of the modern Hato branch in 1994, MCB now has 4 branches located throughout the island offering advanced banking services catering all financial needs. MCB’s ATM network is the largest on Bonaire with 6 machines linked to international systems. Its strong local presence is further complemented by strong international ties such as the global alliance with the Bank of Nova Scotia and a network of correspondent banks worldwide. The head office is located in Curacao. The island of Bonaire benefits from common rates set by the Central Bank of the Netherlands Antilles. Maduro & Curiel’s Bank Bonaire offers a number of investment incentives which are all negotiable as well as flexible rates, prices, transfer costs and special conditions for loans. MCB provides service at an international level with expertise and a professional network.

MCB offers the following Personal Products and Services:

MCB offers the following Business Products and Services:

Industries:
Cargill Salt Bonaire N.V. solar plant produces 400,000 tons of industrial grade salt per year. The main outlets for this salt are water treatment and the chemical industry for which the salt is being exported. A very small portion of the salt exported is processed to make table salt, another 1% is sold locally to the fishermen and the bakery and a tiny amount is used for cosmetics. Bonaire offers a unique salt quality with big crystals of salt produced nowhere else in the world as the island offers a unique combination of natural factors specific for the salt industry: flat land, deep water, wind and plentiful sunshine, ideal for the natural process of evaporation. Cargill benefits from a good distribution network and sales organization. Cargill is looking into expanding in Latin America and prospecting new markets.

For more information, write nancylucas@cargill.com

Knowledge and Education:
One of the fields of interest for foreign investors is Knowledge and Education. Bonaire offers a favorable environment and a good infrastructure for the development of hotel schools, medical schools where teaching, studying, accommodation and some recreation can all be done in one place. The government of Bonaire offers space for the construction of universities, medical facilities, and healthcare institutions with room for expansion. Exemptions of taxes can be applied for a certain number of years with a flexible approach on granting residence permits to students as well as working permits to staff. The island offers facilities for medical congresses, hotels and restaurants for family visits, daily airline connections with the States.

For more information, write afddeza@bonairelive.com

Public Utilities:
Water en Energie Bedrijf Bonaire (WEB) is a government-owned company, which produces and distributes water and electricity on the island. WEB is seeking possibilities to produce water and electricity in a sustainable way by making use of the natural resources of the island such as the wind and the sun. WEB is currently looking into alternative methods to produce energy such as solar ponds, solar panels and wind turbines. The objective within the next five years is to produce 30% of the energy with new sources to reduce the dependency on light fuel oil used for the production of electricity and for the water desalinization process. To reduce the dependency on diesel, WEB needs to find the best alternative, which will enable the company to switch to a different technology at a later phase.

For more information, write webburo@bonairelive.com

Real Estate:
Sunbelt Realty, one of Bonaire’s biggest real estate companies, was established in 1992. The company is the first place many Bonairian property owners and developers go to in order to sell or rent their properties. This is because Sunbelt Realty has proven its ability to connect interested buyers with the perfect house or condominium.

Sunbelt Realty works extensively with both American and European customers, and thanks to its experienced staff, can answer virtually any questions asked about real estate and living on Bonaire.

As a full service real estate company, Sunbelt Realty offers the following services, among others:

Recycling:
Servisio di Limpiesa di Boneiru (SELIBON) is the only waste management company on Bonaire that collects, disposes and processes residential and commercial waste according to proper management and sanitary environmental manners and taking into consideration local laws and regulations. Selibon is working on the following projects: possibility of sorting out trash, separating glass and recycling it on Bonaire, implementing a regulation on car waste for recycling, improving the landfill under international regulations and standards.

For more information, write selibon@bonairelive.com

Telecommunications:
Telefonia Bonairiano N.V. (TELBO) is the only local company offering telecommunication services for the local market. There are three concessions under TELBO: local calls, mobile calls and long distance calls. TELBO plans to divide the company into separate limited liability companies for each business unit: local, mobile, and long distance carrier, broadband and e-zone services. Through these ventures, third party providers are enabled to develop and promote a variety of value added services. TELBO is seeking foreign or local strategic partners by jointly developing the local and the international markets.

TELBO offers superior data-center services on Bonaire, thereby becoming a facilitator of international e-commerce business. TELBO e-zone focuses on attracting dot-com companies and other e-commerce customers to co-locate their equipment at their new data center (250 m²) In the existing building, 100 m² are already dedicated to this new venture. TELBO primarily targets international clients that run e-commerce hubs which offer international web-related services such as: payment brokers, global travel networks, gaming industry, international dot-com companies, internet related financial companies, marketing, management consultant, commodities brokers institutions, etc.

For more information, write telbo@telbonet.an, or visit their website at www.telbo.an

Tourism:
Bonaire is open for the development of hotels, restaurants and other recreational facilities, which contribute to broaden the economic base of Bonaire.

Transport:
Bonaire International Airport (B.I.A.) has just been upgraded from a small regional airport to a fully equipped international one with all the facilities and infrastructure available to service short and long haul international flights. The runway was extended to 2,880 meters (10,000 feet) making it possible for wide-body aircraft to fly to Europe with maximum payload. A fuel-farm, several bowers with under-wing fuelling capabilities and a very well trained staff are ready to service any aircraft 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Aircraft handling companies offer full service turn-around that include cabin cleaning, lavatory service, water service, cargo- and mail handling. Carriers can rely on ground support equipment such as air start, pushback, high-loader, ground power and so on. Over and above the ample ramp space for wide-body aircraft, a new enlarged ramp was completed in October 2003 to accommodate additional traffic in peaks. Bonaire has twice daily non-stop connections to Europe (Amsterdam) and South America (Quito, Guayaquil and Lima) with KLM. To major airports in USA there are direct connections via Curacao, Montego Bay, San Juan and Miami. A new transit/departure terminal was added to the main building. Extra car rental offices were added, and in February 2003 a state-of-the-art airline catering facility started operating. Very shortly there will be a new cargo facility built to receive and dispatch transit cargo.

Looking forward to expanding its non-aviation activities, the airport has secured real estate around the airport and has established an Economic-zone with very favourable tax benefits for the development of economic activities other than tourism, including transhipment, cargo-hub, e-commerce, and assembling companies, BIA is developing 75 acres of multi-functional warehouse facilities. The Island Government will fully cooperate with prospect tenants who will contribute to the general benefit of the Island's economy and/or enhance the employment opportunities.

For more information, info@bonaireeconomy.org