PHILIPSBURG:--- Announcing the SMILE (Sint Maarten Innovation, Initiatives & Industries Event) National Business Card! The SMILE National Business Card is a digital catalogue that will contain information about all event participants; to be shared with all businesses present at the event. The Business Card will serve as a reference guide to all foreign entities seeking a local partner to do business with; thus, showcasing Sint Maarten companies and NGO’s.
As it is already known that all projects going through the World Bank Trust fund will be open for international tendering, The SHTA hopes that the National Business Card will serve foreign specialized companies with an easy overview of local skills and experience including contact details and general information of participating companies willing participate in Joint Ventures. SMILE participants are included in the National Business Card free of charge.
The not-for-profit event SMILE is to be held at November 2nd and 3rd at the University of St Martin. The event is organized by Sint Maarten Hospitality and Trade Association (SHTA) in collaboration with ORCO Bank, Global Resourcing, the Chamber of Commerce and Industries (COCI), The University of St Martin (USM) and 360º of Innovation. SMILE highlights how we can do things differently after Irma with emphasis on innovation and sustainability.
The event, also seeks to provide information to St. Maarten based entities on how they can participate in NRRP projects. As such World Bank Procurement presentations will be a key feature of the event. The organizers hope that by connecting local knowledge as well as goods and services with opportunities to participate in the recovery process we can keep more of the Recovery Trust Fund recirculating on island to go further in recovery.
By timely “linking up” potential international businesses partners with Sint Maarten companies both parties experience an advantage. ‘Knowledge and experience of the Sint Maarten economy’ is a demand in many of the World Bank tenders. Sint Maarten companies can provide just that and create an opportunity that otherwise would perhaps have remained overseas.
The document will be actively spread to international partner networks like the Caribbean Employers Confederation (CEC) and the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA), as well as the Dutch Caribbean Chambers of Commerce (DCCC).
Interested companies both domestic and foreign can contact the SMILE project office at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 5420108. More information can be found at shta.com/SMILE.
