WILLEMSTAD – The establishment of the new CariFoodFund has been officially launched with a visit to Curaçao. The fund is designed to provide financial support for agricultural and food projects on the Caribbean islands in order to enhance food security within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Jamy Goewie, prospective chair of the Supervisory Board of the CariFoodFund Foundation, held talks during her visit with farmers, banks, and the Central Bank of Curaçao and Sint Maarten. Discussions centred in part on the future lending licence.
The fund focuses on Curaçao, Aruba, Sint Maarten, Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba. According to the initiative’s founders, the islands are currently heavily dependent on imported food, leaving them vulnerable to international price increases and supply chain disruptions.
Loans for local food production
CariFoodFund aims to give entrepreneurs in the agricultural and food supply chain access to loans for projects that contribute to local food production. The fund targets both existing small-scale businesses and new initiatives within the sector.
During her visit to Curaçao, Goewie toured several sites, including Hòfi Cas Cora and Fresku Kòrsou (Bonhydroponics), where modern farming techniques are being used to grow food under dry and warm conditions. She also met with representatives from Koperashon Union di Piskadó, Soltuna, and D’Farm.
Revolving fund
According to its founders, the fund is intended to operate as a revolving fund, whereby repaid loans are made available again for new projects. To this end, the fund is seeking partnerships with private investors such as banks and pension funds, both in the Caribbean region and in the Netherlands.
The fund aligns with the policy of the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations to strengthen the economic resilience of the Caribbean part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
