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C H E M C O N T R O L Integrated Supply Solutions
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Main Geographic Markets Our market primarily includes the Eastern Caribbean. See Caribbean GDP Figures.
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ARUBA Aruba is located in the heart of the southern Caribbean, 15 miles (20 kilometers) off the coast of Venezuela. It is 19.6 miles (30 kilometers) long and 6 miles (9 kilometers) across, at its widest point, with an area of approximately 70 square miles (184 square kilometers). Population Aruba's population of about 100,000 inhabitants is made up of a broad international mixture of well educated people with a pleasant nature and a zest for hospitality. The modern Aruban is generally of mixed ancestry, claiming Caquetio Indian, African and European roots. However, the face of Aruba is in continuous flux with the island, drawing individuals from all over the world. Today, the island claims over 40 different nationalities, which live and work peacefully on the island. History Aruba's first inhabitants were the Caquetios Indians from the Arawak tribe. Fragments of the earliest known Indian settlements date back to about 1000 A.D, as do the ancient painted symbols still visible on limestone caves found at Fontein, Ayo and elsewhere. Pottery remnants can still be seen at the Museum of Archaeology. Some centuries later, the first European landed on Aruban shores. Spanish explorer Alonso de Ojeda is thought to have arrived about 1499. The Spanish promptly exported the Indians to Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic, where they were put to work in the copper mines. In 1636, near the culmination of the Eighty Years' War between Spain and Holland, the Dutch took possession of Aruba and remained in control for nearly two centuries. In 1805, during the Napoleonic Wars, the English briefly took control over the island, but it was returned to Dutch control in 1816. Although Aruba continues to exist within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, it functions independently. Economy Tourism is the mainstay of the Aruban economy, although offshore banking and oil refining and storage are also important. The rapid growth of the tourism sector over the last decade has resulted in a substantial expansion of other activities. Construction has boomed, with hotel capacity five times the 1985 level. In addition, the reopening of the country's oil refinery in 1993, a major source of employment and foreign exchange earnings, has further spurred growth. Aruba's small labor force and less than 1% unemployment rate have led to a large number of unfilled job vacancies, despite sharp rises in wage rates in recent years. GDP (2003): $2.021 billion. Growth rate (2003): 1.4%. Per capita GDP (2003): $21,158. Natural resources: Beaches. Tourism/services and oil refining are dominant factors in GDP. Trade: Exports--$3.48 billion (f.o.b., including oil re-exports, 2002): oil products, live animals and animal products, art and collectibles, machinery and electrical equipment, transport equipment. Major markets--U.S. (40.4%), Venezuela (19.9%), Netherlands (10.2%), Netherlands Antilles (14.8%). Imports --$1.5 billion: crude petroleum, food, manufactures. Major suppliers --U.S. (60.4%), Netherlands (12.7%), Netherlands Antilles (3.3%). The Currency of Aruba The official currency of Aruba is the Aruban florin, which is divided into 100 cents. Silver coins are in denominations of 5, 10, 25 and 50 cents, one florin, 2 1/2 florins and 5 florins. The square shaped 50-cent "yotin" coin is probably Aruba's best-known coin. The florin fluctuates with the dollar on the world market. Current exchange rates (4/02) are Af. 1.77 to the U.S. Dollar and Af. 1.34 to the Canadian Dollar. U.S. dollars are widely accepted in Aruba, and banks may exchange other foreign currency. |
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Anguilla |
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Montserrat | ||||
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Chemcontrol Limited |
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