Curaçao's small, open economy will remain highly sensitive to shifts in commodity prices and the ebb and flow of international tourism demand. Following an estimated slight contraction in real GDP in 2014 of 0.4%, marking the sixth consecutive year of recession, economic growth will begin a weak recovery in 2015. This will be driven mainly by improving services sector activity, owing to an upturn in stop-over tourism demand-tourist arrivals jumped by 13% year on year in the first quarter. This will drive new investment in services and construction growth in 2015 and beyond. A return to more positive external conditions will also support an end to recession, although real GDP growth is forecast to be barely positive this year, at 0.2%.

A stronger recovery will be prevented by the government's need to maintain strict fiscal discipline, which will continue to stifle the ability of the public sector to provide a lift to economic growth. Tax increases and minimal real wage growth will also constrain private consumption demand. Growth will be further hampered by tougher international financial regulation, which is acting as a brake on offshore services and company formation. Furthermore, despite recent overtures from Chinese investors, the future of Curaçao's Isla oil refinery remains in question, and any interruption of the facility's activities would represent a major setback for economic growth. Talks with Venezuela over new investment to modernise the refinery have been stalled since 2013. Other risks to our forecast for a mild recovery would materialise if real GDP growth in the US (forecast at 2.4% in 2015 and 2.5% in 2016) were to falter or if weakness in the euro zone were to mount.

The government has pledged to pay more attention to addressing the concerns of business, so as to improve the investment climate and cut red tape. However, until clear progress is made, investor confidence and levels of private invest-ment will remain subdued. Some initial steps to stimulate private investment made headway in 2014. A framework agreement between the private sector and the government provides for closer consultation on policy initiatives. The participation of all the governing parties in the signing of the agreement will better align the reform agenda with business goals and will improve the chances of the deal's approval by the legislature. Progress in politically sensitive areas, such as tackling rigid labour laws, is nevertheless likely to remain slow and piecemeal. The drafting and approval of antitrust legislation (in the form of a competition act) is expected to conclude later in 2015. Several industries in Curaçao operate as virtual monopolies, with some companies suspected of abusing their dominant positions, particularly in the telecommunications, utilities, construction and pharmaceuticals sectors. The creation of a com-petition watchdog to oversee the opening of some sectors to new investors has the potential to improve efficiency and lower costs across the economy. However, implementation will be slow, and will be hampered by resistance to reforms from established interests that have the capacity to wield considerable political influence.