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PHILIPSBURG:--- Representatives of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (COCI) Board and Executive Management met with Princess Juliana International Airport Operating Company N.V. (PJIAE) management team regarding the involvement of local companies during the rebuilding process of the airport.
COCI and PJIAE have a good understanding and awareness of the local business landscape, and therefore the inclusion of local partners in the rebuilding is essential during these challenging economic times for the country.
The COCI board made a request in 2018 and again in 2019 for government-owned companies to consider including local contractors wherever possible in the rebuilding efforts after the damages caused by hurricanes Irma and Marina in September 2017.
COCI took part in the Sint Maarten Reconstruction Information Session that took place in The Hague, the Netherlands in September 2018 Read more

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Coci Has Positive Meeting With Pjiae Airport On The Involvement Of Local Companies In Rebuilding Process

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten Representatives of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (COCI) Board and Executive Management met with Princess Juliana International Airport Operating Company N.V. (PJIAE) management team regarding the involvement of local companies during the rebuilding process of the airport.

COCI and PJIAE have a good understanding and awareness of the local business landscape, and therefore the inclusion of local partners in the rebuilding is essential during these challenging economic times for the country.

The COCI board made a request in 2018 and again in 2019 for government-owned companies to consider including local contractors wherever possible in the rebuilding efforts after the damages caused by hurricanes Irma and Marina in September 2017.

COCI took part in the Sint Maarten Reconstruction Information Session that took place in The Hague, the Netherlands in September 2018.  The Information Session was organized by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (NEA) of the Government of the Netherlands and the Netherlands in Business. 

The objective of that trip to the Netherlands was to get the message across that Sint Maarten is open for business; that the Sint Maarten business community must benefit from the rebuilding of the country via the multi-million dollar Dutch-provided fund managed by the World Bank; and to build a strong bridge between the private sector of Sint Maarten and that of the Netherlands due to the opportunities which are endless when we look at the knowledge exchange capabilities.

When PJIAE noted the request of the COCI for structured involvement of local contractors in our islands rebuilding process and government owned companies, PJIAE was the first to approach COCI to initiate this process and get the ball rolling, PJIAE said in an invited comment.

The Airport Terminal Reconstruction Project is an essential renovation project for the PJIAE which was severely damaged by the 2017 hurricanes.  The reconstruction of the airport terminal which was completed in 2006, also includes further major upgrades with fully automated border control, extra escalators at all gates that would improve passenger experience, upgraded check-in counters, a relocation of car rental booths, and additional retail / food and beverage spaces offering local products.   

During the meeting, the Airport representatives explained the process that was to be launched for the reconstruction of the damages caused by hurricanes Irma and Maria.  The chamber would like to point out that PJIAE as a Government owned company is going the extra length to promote and encourage local contractors to take part and register their company to be eligible for possible joint ventures or subcontracting with larger or main contractors, the COCI Supervisory Board said on Tuesday.

It is very important to have local companies participate, not only for the economic value of keeping the capital on island, but also the knowledge of maintenance of the airport infrastructure, since the airport will need to be maintained continuously in order to meet international standards on both safety and quality. 

I hope all stakeholders understand the importance of this, and of course that it becomes a successful reality.  PJIAE is pleased to collaborate with COCI on this endeavor, the PJIAE Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Brian Mingo, said on Tuesday.

COCI has created a special registration online portal where the local interested companies are requested to register their company Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- The St. Maarten Chamber of Commerce & Industry (COCI) is in the final phase after steering the process leading to the establishment of the Soualiga Employer Association (SEA).
The establishment of the SEA is part of the process of nominating various representatives to the high council of state the Social Economic Council (SER). A list of names will be submitted to the Prime Minister hopefully by the end of the week of September 7.
President of the COCI Supervisory Board Benjamin Ortega said on Friday that COCI was mandated by the Prime Minister back in April and given the task to follow a legally and sound process where names would be submitted to fill the positions on the SER based on the establishment of an umbrella employer organization to ensure a better representation of employers organizations on the board of the SER.
The appointment of the 2020-2023 board was put on hold until a new structure was put in place Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- The Board of Directors of the St. Maarten Chamber of Commerce and Industry (COCI), through its president Benjamin Ortega is pleased to announce and welcome the appointment of its new Business Development Officer (BDO) Sharilyn Bryson effective September 1.
Bryson attended Milton Peters College, then successfully pursued her higher education in the Netherlands thereby obtaining a masters degree in Management Policy-Analysis (MPA) and Entrepreneurship, with a specialization in business management attained at the Vrije Universiteit (VU) van Amsterdam.
One of her roles and duties within her capacity as the Business Development Officer includes ensuring that the operations of the Chambers Business Center function effectively and efficiently Read more

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Dormoy: 100 Per Cent Of Businesses Have Been Impacted By Border Closure

St. Maarten Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Benjamin Ortega.

MARIGOT--Activation of businesses down 56 per cent, first registration of businesses down 42 per cent, and a fifteen per cent increase in closures of businesses over a seven-month period 84 in 2019 compared to 97 in 2020 were some of the statistics highlighting the plight of the Dutch-side business community mentioned by St Read more

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St. Martin/St. Maarten Is One Island, Representatives Should Work On Joint Solutions To Safeguard Economy During Covid-19 Pandemic.

PHILIPSBURG/MARIGOT:--- The Presidents of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry St. Martin and Chamber of Commerce and Industry St. Maarten in a joint press conference are calling on authorities to reopen the borders as the effects on the border controls are detrimental to businesses on both sides of the island.
President of CCISM Angele Dormoy said that the CCISM wrote a letter to the Prefecture and only recently received a response informing them that the health crisis with COVID-19 is far more important than the economic crisis due to COVID-19 Read more

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Chambers Of Commerce & Industry Of North And South Seek Joint Solution To Border Reopening

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten The St. Maarten Chamber of Commerce & Industry (COCI) Board and representatives from the Chambre Consulaire Interprofessionnelle de Saint Martin (CCISM), have sent a joint letter to the Governments, Parliament and Territorial Council of Sint Maarten and Saint-Martin with respect to the border closure that is having a negative impact on the economy of the island.

Part of the joint letter reads as follows: COVID-19 will never be snuffed out in our territory without joint actions by all stakeholders that are being severely impacted.  We will have to bear for a long time, the presence of the COVID-19 virus on our territory and closing the border will not stop the virus from circulating throughout our communities.

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of both sides of the island are seeking for a more intensified joint approach to managing this public health crisis Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:---The St. Maarten Chamber of Commerce & Industry (COCI) Board and representatives from the Chambre Consulaire Interprofessionnelle de Saint-Martin (CCISM), have sent a joint letter to the Governments, Parliament and Territorial Council of Sint Maarten and Saint-Martin with respect to the border closure that is having a negative impact on the economy of the island.
Part of the joint letter reads as follows: COVID-19 will never be snuffed out in our territory without joint actions by all stakeholders that are being severely impacted Read more

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Coci Appoints Jude Houston As New Executive Director

SINT MAARTEN (PHILIPSBURG) The Board of Directors of the St. Maarten Chamber of Commerce and Industry (COCI), through its president Benjamin Ortega is pleased to announce and welcome the appointment of its new Executive Director, Jude Houston.

The Board of Directors contracted consulting firm, BDO with a special task focused on the recruitments of their New director and other Critical functions noted within the COCI organizational chart Read more

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Coci Appoints Jude Houston As New Executive Director

PHILIPSBURG, Sunt Maart 9 The Board of Directors of the St. Maarten Chamber of Commerce and Industry (COCI), through its president Benjamin Ortega is pleased to announce and welcome the appointment of its new Executive Director, Jude Houston.

The Board of Directors contracted consulting firm, BDO with a special task focused on the recruitments of their New director and other Critical functions noted within the COCI organizational chart Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- The Board of Directors of the St. Maarten Chamber of Commerce and Industry (COCI), through its president Benjamin Ortega is pleased to announce and welcome the appointment of its new Executive Director, Jude Houston.
The Board of Directors contracted consulting firm, BDO with a special task focused on the recruitments of their New director and other Critical functions noted within the COCI organizational chart Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Earlier in the week of July 20, the President of the St. Maarten Chamber of Commerce & Industry (COCI) Benjamin Ortega and Ad interim Director and Operations Manager Ruth Patrick, reminded clients of COCI about the need to practice social distancing with a banner outside the office building that displays COCIs slogan on Stronger Together yet advocating But six (6) feet apart as a key measure to protect public health Read more

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Coci Introduces Stronger Together But 6 Feet Apart Campaign In Promoting Health Measures To Prevent Covid-19

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten Earlier in the week of July 20, the President of the St. Maarten Chamber of Commerce & Industry (COCI) Benjamin Ortega and Ad interim Director and Operations Manager Ruth Patrick, reminded clients of COCI about the need to practice social distancing with a banner outside the office building that displays COCIs slogan on Stronger Together yet advocating But six (6) feet Apart as a key measure to protect public health.

Decal stickers on the outside as well as the inside of the office added to the public health advisory of the chamber.

Both Ortega and Patrick are appealing to the St Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- The Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) and the St. Maarten Chamber of Commerce & Industry (COCI) May 20 webinar about being export ready was a great success President of the Supervisory Board of COCI Benjamin Ortega said on Sunday.
More than 58 companies and persons from the business community registered for the online seminar Read more

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Rvo And Coci May 20 Webinar On Export-Ready Opportunities A Great Success

SINT MAARTEN (PHILIPSBURG) The Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) and the St. Maarten Chamber of Commerce & Industry (COCI) May 20 webinar about being export ready was a great success President of the Supervisory Board of COCI Benjamin Ortega said on Sunday.

More than 58 companies and persons from the business community registered for the online seminar.  There were also 30+ persons in attendance.

The registered businesses received a wealth of information on what export and being export ready entailed and what instruments have been designed to assist entrepreneurs.

The webinar also covered support in the form of coaching for companies Read more

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Coci Says To Send Concerns And Complaints About Ssrp & Four-Phase Economic Re-Opening Plan To The Chamber

SINT MAARTEN (PHILIPSBURG) The Government has put together the St. Maarten Stimulus and Relief Plan (SSRP) to deal with the fallout of the closing of the countrys borders and the lockdown since mid-March.

The objective of the SSRP according to the Government is to absorb the economic and social impact caused by the COVID-19 global pandemic.  Businesses that are severely affected will need financial assistance and for those who risk losing their jobs, the creation of a social safety net is essential, the SSRP website says.

There is Direct Support for businesses and individuals who are impacted by the pandemic; Government Related Liquidity for the Government and Government owned entities; Additional Healthcare Expenses which is urgent support for healthcare needed to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The Chamber has taken note of the published phases of the Economic Re-Opening Plan and would like the general public to know that the St Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:---The Government has put together the St. Maarten Stimulus and Relief Plan (SSRP) to deal with the fallout of the closing of the countrys borders and the lockdown since mid-March.
The objective of the SSRP according to the Government is to absorb the economic and social impact caused by the COVID-19 global pandemic. Businesses that are severely affected will need financial assistance and for those who risk losing their jobs, the creation of a social safety net is essential, the SSRP website says.
There is Direct Support for businesses and individuals who are impacted by the pandemic; Government-Related Liquidity for the Government and Government-owned entities; Additional Healthcare Expenses which is urgent support for healthcare needed to combat the COVID-19 pandemic Read more

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Coci Supervisory Board Salutes The Heroes On The Front Lines In The Private Sector

SINT MAARTEN (PHILIPSBURG) President of the Supervisory Board of the St. Maarten Chamber of Commerce & Industry (COCI) Benjamin Ortega, on behalf of the COCI board and management, recognizes and salutes the heroes on the front lines, the essential workers who go out on a daily basis providing key services during the national state of emergency to members of the community during the COVID-19 global pandemic.

We have the front liners in the healthcare field such as the doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals, the emergency medical responders, the police, marines and other law enforcement officials, who have been at the fore front of this international emergency.

But, we also have many workers in the private sector who are also on the front line working in supermarkets, cashiers, shelf-packers, the cleaners, management, delivery bus drivers, gas station attendants, security guards, and other key private sector service providers who have been allowed to work during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The aforementioned and many more, during the past two-months have provided the citizens of the country essential services to keep the country going while the majority of residents remained safely at home at the request of the Governments Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in order to save lives and protect our health care sector from being overwhelmed with COVID-19 cases.

We can imagine that this has been a very stressful time having to leave their families at home and go to work when the nation is at home, especially when you do not want to catch the disease and bring it back home to the family. 

On behalf of the Chamber Board, we are thankful for the hard work that our essential workers have been doing during this pandemic, and we fully understand the sacrifice involved in faithfully serving our community.  Thank You once again for your services to our community, President of the COCI Board Benjamin Ortega said on Sunday.

The Chamber of Commerce & Industry has been closed during the lockdown period but remained working in providing services to registrants Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- President of the Supervisory Board of the St. Maarten Chamber of Commerce & Industry (COCI) Benjamin Ortega, on behalf of the COCI board and management, recognizes and salutes the heroes on the front lines, the essential workers who go out on a daily basis providing key services during the national state of emergency to members of the community during the COVID-19 global pandemic Read more

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Ortega Calls On Business Sector And Community To Stand Together

Benjamin Ortega.

PHILIPSBURG--President of the St. Maarten Chamber of Commerce and Industry (COCI) Board Benjamin Ortega on Tuesday called on the public and the business commu Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- On Tuesday, April 14 President of the Supervisory Board of the St. Maarten Chamber of Commerce & Industry (COCI) Benjamin Ortega, called on the general public and the business community to stand together during this time of distress due to the COVID-19 global pandemic.
The world is upside down. Even more than ever Read more

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Coci: St. Maarten Business Community: Now Is The Time To Prepare For Covid-19

SINT MAARTEN — PHILIPSBURG The Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is widely spreading to other countries around the world and has been declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO). At this point in time, Dutch St. Maarten remains free of COVID-19.

President of the COCI Board Benjamin Ortega on behalf of the board is calling on the business community to prepare for the arrival of COVID-19 by preparing contingency plans and to look at the economic/financial impact on their business operation for the next second and third quarter year periods of 2020 Read more

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PHILIPSBURG:--- The Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is widely spreading to other countries around the world and has been declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO). At this point in time, Dutch St. Maarten remains free of COVID-19.
President of the COCI Board Benjamin Ortega on behalf of the board is calling on the business community to prepare for the arrival of COVID-19 by preparing contingency plans and to look at the economic/financial impact on their business operation for the next second and third quarter year periods of 2020 Read more

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Chamber Invites Businesses To Participate In Hub Santo Domingo 2020

SINT MAARTEN (PHILIPSBURG) From March 17 until March 19, the Dominican Republic multi-sector trade fair Hub Santo Domingo 2020 will take place, and the St. Maarten Chamber of Commerce & Industry (COCI) is inviting Chamber registrants to participate in the business to business event and exhibition.

Hub Santo Domingo 2020 is being organized by the Chamber of Commerce of Santo Domingo and the Center for Export and Investment (CEI-RD). The two-day B2B event will bring together over 1000 business representatives from the Dominican Republics capital city, and there will be approximately 300 exhibitors from regional and international markets.

This is a collaborative effort that includes the Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport & Telecommunication (Ministry TEATT) and the Social Economic Council of Sint Maarten (SER).

St Read more

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