Business View Carribean l January 2023

33 34 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 10, ISSUE 1 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 10, ISSUE 1 ARUBA TRADE & INDUSTRY ASSOC I AT ION (AT I A) together with The Netherlands, where reforms on basically all areas and sectors of the island should have to be implemented. What ATIA has to look at from a business standpoint are the areas of tax reform, labor reform, and the elimination of red tape. There is also social reform where they’re looking into an unemployment package. Education, the hospital, government spending are also being looked at over the next two years. “It will make our economy more robust, even more resilient, and also more modern. We have a lot of outdated laws and change is not fun but we have to do it to become more competitive in the region. ATIA has really been advocating for many of these points over the years and continues to be a strong voice of support for change in the government.” BVC: What type of education programs and networking events do you offer? Henriquez: “Every year we do programs on labor law. We do training through our official Customs Declarations portal, where companies can participate to train their staff. That is a big one. Also, people management, HR programs. When I came on board, we added a financial education line with a CPE-certified company in The Netherlands, where we do specific financial training for companies that are under the supervision of the Central Bank. That was a real success last year. “We also organized an in-person business mixer for networking at the end of September and that was sold out. The new Minister for Economic Development was our guest and I had a ‘fireside chat’ with him on the stage, where we got to ask him the questions most relevant to businesses – but on a social level. Then in November, we had our main fundraiser, a corporate event with a panel of four local businesses (big companies) sharing how they had to pivot to survive COVID and thrive. “This year we’re rebranding the leadership conference to focus on ‘purpose’. The world is changing to a more purposeful economy – the new generations need a purpose to work somewhere. And we feel that the economy in Aruba is ready for that now. People are quitting their jobs to do something with more of an impact. So we have big plans to talk about purpose and culture at our conference.” BVC: Looking ahead, how will ATIA continue to be a viable voice for the Aruba business community? Henriquez: “I’m looking forward to the future. We’re here to push people a little outside of their comfort zone but also I think ATIA should be a bridge – a place that connects businesses with other islands, other countries, it’s about stimulating the economy. And because the economy is becoming more global, I think we’re a good place that people can come to find those connections they need because we have them already. The Aruba Trade & Industry Association should become that bridge to Aruba and from Aruba to the outside world. All this, and continue to advocate for the local companies and stimulate reforms to become a more resilient economy.”