On November 5th, 2019, the Dutch-German Chamber of Commerce organized the 2nd German-Caribbean Energy Conference at the Renaissance Convention Center in Oranjestad, Aruba. The conference was held in association with a German trade mission facilitated by the German Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs & Energy to Aruba and Curacao. A delegation of German entrepreneurs and energy experts visited the ABC islands, looking to extend their business to the Dutch Caribbean region.

The conference was opened by a keynote on the energy vision of Aruba by Prime Minister Evelyn Wever-Croes. During her speech, Prime Minister Wever-Croes highlighted the importance of Aruba investing in renewable energies and energy efficiency in order to reduce high energy costs and resolve climate issue. The keynote was followed by Minister of Finance, Economic Affairs & Culture Xiomara Maduro, who welcomed the German delegation and pointed out the importance of collaboration between Germany and Aruba.

Six German energy companies presented their energy solutions made in Germany to an audience of 100 energy experts from the ABC islands. In addition renowned German energy experts like Prof. Dr.-Ing. M. Norbert Fisch of the EGS-Plan Ingenieursgesellschaft and Stefan M. Buettner of the Institute for Energy Efficiency in Production informed the public on energy-efficient and climate-neutral buildings and city districts as well as industrial de-carbonization approaches for climate savings.

The conference ended with a panel discussion on the overall energy transition of Aruba and Curacao, including Luis H. Oduber from Web Aruba N.V. , representing Aruba and Edwin Bogert from Bureau Telecommunicatie en Post, representing Curacao. The German-Caribbean relationships were strengthened during a network lunch and individual meetings after the conference.