Nirmala Sitharaman Holds Talks with Curaçao Finance Minister on Investment Opportunities
Bankok: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman met Curaçao Finance Minister Charles Cooper on the sidelines of the World Bank–IMF Annual Meetings in Bangkok, Thailand, on Friday to explore avenues for strengthening economic cooperation and bilateral engagement.
During the meeting, Cooper highlighted investment opportunities for Indian companies in Curaçao, particularly in energy storage, logistics infrastructure and financial services. He also drew attention to the island’s substantial hydrocarbon storage capacity, deep-sea harbour and ship repair facilities, as well as the stability offered by the legal framework of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Sitharaman welcomed the interest and said the opportunities would be conveyed to the Indian companies concerned.
The two ministers also discussed cooperation in healthcare and education, including the supply of generic medicines fro
m India and potential partnerships between universities.
Sitharaman invited Curaçao to share its specific pharmaceutical requirements, which could be taken up with India’s pharmaceutical industry.
Both sides exchanged views on the possibility of a Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) and a Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) to encourage investment. They noted that such agreements would be concluded through the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
The discussions also touched on people-to-people ties. The Curaçao delegation informed Sitharaman that, at the request of the Indian community, a roundabout had been named after Mahatma Gandhi and that a statue would be unveiled there shortly. The finance minister appreciated the gesture.
