First Loan Under the BMKB-ACS Program Awarded in Collaboration with Qredits

The Minister of Finance, Economic Affairs, and Culture (Primary Sector), Mr. Geoffrey Wever, and the State Secretary for Kingdom Relations and Effective Government, Eric van der Burg, were present to mark this historic milestone.

What is BMKB-ACS?

BMKB-ACS stands for SME Credit Guarantee Aruba, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten. This program helps businesses with promising business plans—but lacking sufficient collateral—secure loans from banks or financial institutions. The Dutch government guarantees a portion of the risk, making it much easier for financial institutions to extend credit to these businesses.

The official visit and check presentation to Vaper Trading represent a concrete step in the government's commitment to making financing more accessible to local businesses, which often face hurdles when trying to secure credit through traditional banking channels.

Boosting Local Growth

Vaper Trading VBA, established in 2021, operates as a wholesaler of auto parts, frozen goods, and dry goods. With this new financing, the company can continue to grow, expand its operations, and further contribute to the local economy.

Minister Wever emphasized that access to capital is one of the most critical pillars for fostering entrepreneurship and economic diversification:

"Our local entrepreneurs have the vision and the determination, but access to capital is often their biggest hurdle. With instruments like the BMKB-ACS, we mitigate a portion of the risk so that banks and financial institutions can back more local initiatives with genuine potential."

About the Guarantee and Qredits

Tailored specifically to the Dutch Caribbean context, the BMKB-ACS program offers a guarantee ranging from 45% to 67.5% on loans, significantly lowering the risk for lenders.

Qredits, which has been active in Aruba since 2017, plays an essential role in the local entrepreneurial ecosystem—not just by providing financing, but also through business coaching and mentoring. To date, they have approved 574 loans, totaling over 12.2 million AWG, with the goal of reaching their 600th loan by 2026.

Collaboration Pays Off

Minister Wever highlighted the vital importance of public-private partnerships in driving the Arubaanse economy forward:

"This is a textbook example of how collaboration between the government, financial institutions, and entrepreneurs can create a tangible impact. We are building an economy where private initiative is encouraged, supported, and facilitated. This is how we create more jobs, more economic activity, and more opportunities for our people."

In closing, Minister Wever expressed his gratitude to State Secretary Eric van der Burg for his presence and support, as well as to Qredits for their unwavering dedication to local entrepreneurs. He also extended his warmest congratulations to Vaper Trading on this significant milestone.