Curacao to create data and technology park

(CNS): Cayman is not the only Caribbean country looking to technology as a possible direction for diversifying its economy. Plans are now reportedly in place to build the largest datacenter and technology park in the region in Curacao. According to a release from the Dutch territory’s government following a year’s detailed research by government and its partners in the venture CTEX the technology park will offer businesses and governments in the region ‘bunker-type’ facilities from which they can operate their organizations either as a secondary or backup or primary facility. Geographically outside the Caribbean’s main hurricane belt, the island hopes to benefit from the position to attract business to the park.

“We are excited about the project and believe that the economic impact to Curacao will ultimately drive the creation of a new economic sector resulting in more jobs and revenues for the island. In many ways, the project repositions Curacao as a new business center in the same manner as the offshore sector did decades ago,” said Prime Minister Gerrit Schotte . “More importantly the technology park as a whole will drive up our education levels and result in downstream growth in other industries such as Financial Services, Real-estate, Hospitality and Telecommunications. If we are to become a player in today’s world that is primarily driven by Technology, then Curacao must seek its leadership role in the region.”

The park will consist of four independent pods or buildings over approximately 12.000 m2 where
CTEX will offer businesses and governments a unique blend of services which include the digitalization and storage of information sensitive paper documents in a climate controlled environment, an expansive datacenter housing the latest ‘cloud’ computing infrastructure that customers can lease as well as full emergency recovery facilities with standby offices with international telecommunications access.

“Because of the geographic positioning of Curacao which is located relatively outside the traditional hurricane belt in a politically stable jurisdiction, having a center on the island that can provide backup for critical business transactions and data, makes all the sense and places our island in a unique and enviable position in the region,” said Anthony DeLima CTEX’s CEO. “CTEX’s facilities will provide companies with investments in neighboring countries such as Venezuela, Colombia, Surinam and Panama with an alternative operating facility.”

CTEX’s facilities will be built based on the international LEED certified standards for energy efficiency and will be the only facility in its class in the region. They facilities are designed to withstand hurricane force winds and operate independently for 15 business days based on self-sustained power generation, accommodation and provisioning for emergency staff located in the facility.