Reporter: Ben Wodecki

Eugene Rhuggenaath, prime minister of Curaçao, has met with the president of the International Anti Counterfeiting Coalition (IACC), Bob Barchiesi, to discuss the importance of IP protection.

In the meeting, the two discussed tactics to advance Curaçao’s fight against counterfeiting and to highlight the vital role IP protection plays in countries’ economies.

Curaçao’s Harbor Economic Zone is a major trading distribution centre for more than 30 million consumers in the Caribbean.

Rhuggenaath said: “Curaçao aims to be a globally recognized compliant jurisdiction, providing substance and value-added services.

“In the case of its economic zones, Curaçao positions itself as the market of choice for high-value brands and services.”

Barchiesi added: “Curaçao’s free trade zones provide significant opportunities for legitimate businesses and play a critical role in global trade. Our discussions reflect a mutual commitment to establishing strong border control measures with an emphasis on combating illicit trade.”

The government of Curaçao and the IACC established a partnership back in 2014 when the two signed a memorandum of understanding. Since then, the IACC has worked closely with the government to provide legislative recommendations for effective anti-counterfeiting enforcement.

Bron: IPPro