The news coincided with DCSX's inauguration ceremony held on 20th January which was attended by dignitaries from Aruba, Curacao, the Netherlands and Saint Marten.

Financial institutions including Banco di Caribe, Amicorp, SFT Bank, BNH Financial Services and Maduro & Curiel's Bank are now authorized by DCSX as brokers and have fully tested Trayport's Exchange Trading System. These institutions are connected to the DCSX trading platform and are expected to start listing contracts on the exchange in the first quarter of 2011.

"DCSX will primarily provide an exchange for the trading of equities, fixed income and funds," said Luis Santine, CEO of DCSX. "We expect a significant amount of fund listing in particular, as there is a demand for local alternative investment opportunities that have arisen from the constitutional change from the former Netherlands Antilles in 2010. The government is only permitted to issue bonds freely, only after approval has been gained, which can be a limiting factor for pension funds and insurance companies. So, the exchange will be a way of creating alternative investment for them. Many small to medium size firms are also likely to list on DCSX as it is provides a cost effective alternative to listing in the Netherlands itself."

Trayport's (www.trayport.com) role is as a technology facilitator to enable trading on DCSX. "In 2009 we initially undertook preliminary work to explore the provision of a trading system for the exchange," said Mr. Santine. "We defined objectives and then looked at which platforms would be the most appropriate to meet these. We quickly decided that Trayport was the best solution for DCSX. In particular the experience that Trayport has in terms of providing exchange technology to other markets worldwide was important as well as offering us a flexible trading platform that will expand as our markets grow."

"The trading platform has already proven to be user friendly. So far the brokers that have used the ssystem have been comfortable with it and there have been no issues where they needed extra training," he added.

At the inauguration ceremony for DCSX, His Excellency, Mr. George Jamaloodin, Minister of Finance said, "DCSX recognised the need for a professional, high standard and skilfully operated securities exchange - and the many opportunities it represents some time ago. Our country has a financial sector of the highest standards. We are home to many leading international companies. Due to its jurisdiction and geographical position, Curacao increasingly functions as a hub between the high growth economies in Latin America and the established industries in the US and Europe. The presence of a securities exchange that is able to compete with other exchanges in the region is of great importance to the wellbeing, development and growth of our financial sector and therefore our economy as a whole."