Investment opportunities
St. Maarten's economy is almost totally dependent on the tourism industry. A relative large share of the economic activity on the island are geared towards the tourism industry. Complementary to the tourism industry, the other sectors that contribute to the economy are construction, trade, banking and wholesale industry. Based on the Comprehensive Economic Development Plan (CEDP), St. Marten is looking at diversifying the economy within the tourism industry and additional industries, however not as a replacement of the tourism industry.

One such industry is the trade industry, of which St. Maarten plays an instrumental role as a hub for the regional islands. Because of St. Maarten's duty free status and strategic location, St. Maarten adds reasons to be chosen as a distribution hub for container traffic for the following reasons namely, as a result of:

1. It's close proximity to USA, creating savings of approximately 20% as compared to the southern Caribbean islands.

2. It offers excellent transshipment opportunities with the newly renovated harbor facility to the surrounding islands

3. Falling outside the USA customs Zone, foreign vessels or US vessels under a foreign flag are permitted

The Island Government has recently approved a Comprehensive Economic Development Plan (CEDP) for St. Maarten with the focus on diversifying the economy.
1. Diversification geared towards expanding the economic bases by focusing on the development of other economic sectors.
2. Diversification within the tourism sector thereby identifying what other types of industries within the tourism sectors that can be developed i.e. marina/yachting, conference/group travel.
Based on this approach the Island Government has approved certain priority areas of economic diversification, which are presented in the CEDP as follows:
• Development of the IT-sector
1. e-business related industries
2. trade center services
3. learning centers
• Regional distribution center for trade, information and services
• Light manufacturing

Possible joint ventures and operations with other islands, also possible and encouraged if the infrastructure developments are not in favor for St. Maarten.

St. Maarten produces very little products due to the lack of human resources therefore, the Island Government is looking at ways of diversifying the economy. Since St. Maarten is dependent on tourism, the CEDP focuses on industries that complement and do not effect the tourism industry.
Preferential trade agreement
Foreign companies that manufacture in St. Maarten have preferential access to US and European markets due to the Netherlands Antilles status as an Associate member of the European Community.

Associate member of the EC.
St. Maarten, as part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, is an "overseas country and territory" (OCT) of the European Community, and as such, has preferential access to the European markets.

The European Community is a single market of 345 million customers, therefore, St. Maarten companies which export to the community can experience economies of scale.
Trade preferences and free access is given to products originating in St. Maarten, which have added value by being produced or processed locally and have provided employment.

International manufacturers and trading companies exporting to the EU could see financial advantages by diverting their exports via St. Maarten and by doing minimal processing on the island could change the country of origin status and benefit from this arrangement.