Plaza di Commercio
Inaugurated
It was an
historical moment when on November 11, 1929 a group of approximately 30 entrepreneurs
signed a petition to the Lieutenant Governor of Aruba to institute an organization to
represent their commercial interests. This petition led to the formation of the Aruba
Chamber of Commerce by a government decree issued on September 8, 1930. The
Chamber was then officially declared the representative of trade and industry in Aruba.
Interestingly
enough, the great-grandchildren of those who signed the petition are still at the heart of
trade and industry on the island. Names such as Hart, Booi, de Groot, Eman,
Henriquez, de Veer, Ecury, Lacle & Arends still play
prominent roles in this island’s economy and some of the companies established in the
early twentieth century now celebrate 75/80 years of existence, among others the Aruba
Bank, Meta Corporation and the Aruba Trading Company.
According to Lorraine de Souza, the
Chamber’s secretary and treasurer there is never a dull moment at work. The Chamber
is the core of business activity she adds, and an ever-hopping nerve center. The operations comprise the Registers, Business
Information and Support, the Secretariat and the Financial Administration staffed by 12
full-time employees including the Executive Director.
We’re now talking about the Aruban Chamber of Commerce
because the official cornerstone to its new headquarters was recently laid. The honor was
bestowed upon the Minister of Economic Affairs, Mrs. Lili Beke –
also our Minister of Tourism - the guest speaker at the ceremony. The project now dubbed Plaza
di Commercio is ambitious.
The former Chairman of the Building Committee, now serving
as the naturally-un-paid Chamber Vice President, Tony Rangel-Eman,
explains the current location of the Chamber became impossibly small, very limited in
parking and accessibility and basically out of date. True, housed across Fort Zoutman, in
a congested old-town area, the Chamber finds it very challenging to be visitor-friendly.
In the beginning of the 90s, Tony recalls, members started shopping for a new locale,
dreaming of a state of the art building, which will reflect member’s vision of the
local economy. The government at the time wasn’t receptive, however in 1999 a
surprisingly large plot of land was grated, across the Tamarijn Beach Resort, on
Sasakiweg. It is now evolving into Plaza di Commercio, a business park with 30.000. -
square meters earmarked for development.
Jani Croes who is a local architect and a Chamber
Board Member reports that in total seven new buildings will be constructed in that area,
all business related. The development will become an architectural statement, recycling
elements of traditional Dutch-Aruban architecture, into a modern,
futuristic and dynamic environment. We’re open to avant-guard looks her says, new
forms, and original creativity. Croes is currently working on one of the structures,
commission by Attorney Monica Arends Croes to house Cayena Real
Estate. Jani calls the design simple, yet very modern. Tony who often voices his
opposition to what he calls warehouse construction is very pleased with the Chamber’s
building and with its glamorous environs.
The Chamber’s new building encompasses 950
square meters in three stories. The first story is dedicated to the business
development office, a reception area and a virtual library where on line access will be
available to many related materials. The second story will embrace meeting rooms, a
boardroom, and an oval space that could be rented out for meetings, a hi-tech, ISDN
teleconferencing facility capable of hosting 90-100 people. The balcony, Tony adds, may be
used for social purposes as it overlooks the commercial park. On the third floor of the
Chamber’s new building a VIP lounge is designed to entertain dignitaries, a place
where government may meet labor, undisturbed. Then the executive suites, home to Lorraine
de Sousa, the organization’s secretary will be client oriented, and people friendly.
The building says Tony, besides being a technological dream, also goes back to basics with
wide stairways, a modern elevator and restrooms on every floor. The architects Habibe
& Maia, hailing from Curacao had fire safety and fire prevention in mind while
designing the complex, also furnished with a fire-proof vault for valuable, irreplaceable
documents.
Tony is proud to share that in 1929 John Eman,
his great-grandfather was involved with the Chamber and he enjoys tracing his roots to the
old elite of that time. The Chamber Tony concludes is positioning itself as a leader,
setting high standards and looking into the future to the tune of 50-million florins,
financed by the local banks.
Glenn Croes, a banker, Interbank, on the Chamber Board, sees the initiative
as an impetus. We are creating a new financial center, he declares. Besides the added
value of construction, which is the engine of our economy, he adds. We have very
attractive, prestigious tenants checking into our development, he expounds, as this is a
business specific environment designed to be the seat of power, off shore and on shore
financial transactions and e-commerce. According to Glenn, the Central Bank, which now
sits in town bursting at its seams, is also considering a move. ABN-Amro bank,
which originally expressed its interest in the project, might not follow through, as there
are strong indications it is being sold.
Alan
Reilly, a real estate man on the Chamber’s Board reveals the project will be
finished in the spring of 2002. Allan calls the development a subdivision, and
points out that in the past the government alone was in position to develop a subdivision.
The Chamber’s Plaza di Commercio will be the first to be undertaken by the private
sector. .
We could
expect the law offices of Andin Bikker & Lincoln Gomez in the Matrix
building dedicated to E-Eommerce, besides another for Valentine’s Real Estate,
designed by local mega-architect, Dan Oduber. Alan gives further details
about the initiative describing the parking facilities, the upgrade from asphalt to pavers
and the attractive street lamps, then hints that should the subdivision be as successful
as he thinks, a similar park will be established in San Nicolas, an area economically
deprived.
Roland Peterson, the Chamber’s
Chairman, expresses pride at the new Chamber image in sync with the 21st
century. He too subscribes to the philosophy that if you built it they will come. Having
dedicated his life to service, he is the former head of Public Order Bureau, his goal is
to simply serve his community better. Better internal organization yield better external
results he shares, thus he concludes that the Chamber’s new building is not a luxury,
but a necessity.
The Chamber Activities:
As to the question of what the chamber does, Lorraine
directed me to the net where at www.chamberaruba.com
I found that the Chamber represent and promotes the interests of the Aruban business
community, it also provide – solicited and unsolicited – advice and information
to the Minister of Economic Affairs, it provide services and trade information to the
Aruban and international community, especially to tourists and visitors wishing to settle
here or establish themselves in business. The Chamber contributes to the promotion of
business activity and economic development it also provides support and advice to budding
entrepreneurs, it actively promote the attraction of potential investors.
[courtesy
of Rona Coster]
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