Here’s a look at some popular and influential companies operating in Saint Martin (French side) and Sint Maarten (Dutch side)—especially in key sectors like airlines, telecom, retail, finance, and hospitality:
Dutch Side – Sint Maarten
Regional Airlines
- Winair (Windward Islands Airways International NV): The government‑owned flag carrier of Sint Maarten, headquartered at Princess Juliana International Airport in Philipsburg. Operates interline and codeshare flights across the Caribbean.
- Windward Express Airways: Based in Philipsburg, offers charter and cargo services across Eastern Caribbean islands, including Saba and St Barth.
Telecommunications
- The Sint Maarten Telecommunication Holding Company N.V. (TelEm/Flow): Largest telecom operator in Philipsburg, part of regional FLOW brand serving both French and Dutch sides
Retail & Supermarkets
- Le Grand Marché: Home‑grown supermarket chain with four locations across Sint Maarten (Philipsburg, Simpson Bay, Cole Bay, Lowlands), employing ~200 staff.
- Numerous retail stores in duty‑free zones are often owned or run by entrepreneurial Indian-descendant families, prominent in Philipsburg shopping district.
Finance & Insurance
- Boogaard Insurances BV, The Windward Islands Bank Ltd., National General Insurance Corporation NV, and FirstCaribbean International Bank (Sint Maarten branch) are among the high-revenue firms based in Philipsburg.
Management/Corporate Services
- Bogor Holding Ltd., Geotec Development NV, Leeward Consulting Group NV, and Dream Yacht Saint Martin are standout local enterprise management firms with operational presence in Philipsburg and surrounding areas.
French Side – Saint-Martin
Telecommunications
- Dauphin Telecom: Leading telecom provider with several affiliated entities in the French portion, supporting local internet and mobile services. Also present: Net SXM, Wifilink, Orange, and Digicel.
Finance & Insurance
- Pelican Assurance, SYMA, Sofigua, GB Entreprise, SXM Expertise, Esurances Caraibes Assurance, and others operate in Marigot and surrounding sectors of financial services and insurance on the French side.
Hospitality & Marine
- Companies like SXM Hospitality Group, FM Sail, TI Fly, and Catana Group operate in tourism, hospitality, yachting, and sea-related activities in Grand Case and nearby towns.
Retail
- High dependence on tourism leads to dense retail/high-end duty-free shops in Marigot, Philipsburg, Grand Case—supported by luxury, jewelry, electronics outlets.
Notable Mentions
- Flow (Caribbean-wide): Telecom brand operating seamlessly across both parts of the island, known for reliable prepaid SIM/data plans. Highly recommended by travelers for cross-border coverage.
- Red Cross Sint Maarten: Key humanitarian organization headquartered near Princess Juliana International Airport, especially active in disaster response.
Summary Table
| Side | Sector | Leading Entities |
|---|---|---|
| Sint Maarten | Aviation | Winair, Windward Express Airways |
| Telecom | TelEm / Flow (via The Sint Maarten Telecommunication Holding Company) | |
| Retail/Shopping | Le Grand Marché, duty-free retailers | |
| Finance & Insurance | Boogaard Insurances BV, Windward Islands Bank, FirstCaribbean | |
| French Saint-Martin | Telecom | Dauphin Telecom, Orange, Net SXM, Wifilink |
| Financial Services | Pelican Assurance, Sofigua, SYMA, Caribbean Finances | |
| Hospitality & Marine | SXM Hospitality Group, FM Sail, TI Fly | |
| Retail | Luxury and duty-free shops tied to tourism and duty-free status |
