Diplomatic World_69

Suriname’s gas potential is estimated at more than thirty trillion
cubic meters. This year, according to Staatsolie director Annand
Jagesar, five promising wells will be constructed. Currently, only
40 percent of the offshore blocks have been issued in concession.
About 60 percent of the acreage is still untouched. An international
auction will be held for these blocks later this year.
GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY HAS WORSENED
RECENTLY. HAVING ENOUGH FERTILE LAND TO
SUPPLY AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS FOR THE
CARIBBEAN AND BEYOND, HOW CAN SURINAME
CONTRIBUTE TO TACKLE THE PROBLEM OF
INCREASING FOOD INSECURITY?
Agricultural development and attracting investors are also major
priorities for the Surinamese Government. To mitigate international
shocks from commodity prices, a Co-investment Fund will
be created. This fund has a savings and a stabilization function:
The Central Bank of Suriname fulfils the savings function by
investing 85 percent of the income, and the stabilization function
relates to 15 percent of the assets that will be used to fund
tourism and ecotourism, taking into account current and future
economic, social and environmental impacts, meeting the
needs of visitors, industry, environment and local communities.
Eco-tourism takes place in a responsible manner by preserving
the environment, while supporting the local population.
We aim to improve and guarantee the quality of the services and
This result encourages us to continue our exploration in order to
The land mass of Suriname is five times the size of the Netherlands
government revenues.
products offered, in accordance with international norms and
further identify resources. The estimates are that oil and gas pro-
but only about 600,000 people live there. Our main agricultural
standards. Setting up a tourism cluster through Public Private
duction will start by 2025-2026. According to experts, Suriname
has up to half of the oil and gas discovered around the world last
year. Taking into account that Suriname is one of only three countries
in the world that is carbon negative, the untapped potential of
Suriname is enormous.
The Republic of Suriname is on the eve of exploiting its offshore oil
and gas reserves on such a scale that this will have an immense
impact on the socio-economic development. In order to steer
products are rice, shrimp, fish, shellfish, and bananas.
With 1.5 million hectares considered suitable for agricultural
production available to us, it is not inconceivable for Suriname to
become an agricultural hub for the region, and beyond.
It is estimated that only 120,000 hectares are currently being
used, leaving much room for growth. Rice is the country’s main
agricultural export product and the third biggest foreign income,
CONSIDERING THE GEOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
OF THE COUNTRY, NICHE AREAS OF TOURISM
(SUCH AS ECO-TOURISM AND CULTURAL
TOURISM) HOLD PLENTY OF UNTAPPED
POTENTIAL IN SURINAME. WHAT STEPS ARE BE-
ING TAKEN TO ATTRACT A GREATER NUMBER OF
VISITORS TO THE COUNTRY?
Partnerships will create high-quality accommodation capacity
and other facilities at a strategic location in the interior of
Suriname.
To attract a greater number of visitors to Suriname we will
enhance the promotion of the Surinamese tourism product by
participating in various tourism fairs, promotion via social media
and the internet, billboards, and television spots.
this in the right direction and to cope with the various crises that
after gold and oil. We expect that the demand for rice will contin-
The Government of Suriname is of the view, that the tourism
Suriname has a diverse culture and an indigenous heritage that
Suriname has suffered, we have drawn up a development plan
ue to increase over the next ten years.
industry should be given more priority than the small and large-
dates back at least 5,000 years, it is time that we showcase that.
and a crisis recovery plan that is being implemented. The Develop-
scale gold industry. In that respect, the focus will be placed on
I invite you to come and enjoy my beautiful country Suriname.
ment Plan 2022-2026 is a strategic document which contains in-
In the coming years we plan to add value to our rice products, by
increasing the number of tourists through the implementation of
Come and swim in our rivers and creeks; enjoy the wildlife; the
formation, data and precedents, values and standards to indicate
creating cereals, soups and baby food. Projections also indicate
more affordable and differentiated travel packages targeting in-
tropical sun; inhale clean rainforest air; and enjoy our culturally
the vision for Suriname in the long term. The document therefore
that aquaculture production will exceed fish production in the
ternational tourism trends in which can have a significant positive
diverse cuisine.
pursues particular relevance, incorporates the Sustainable Devel-
coming years, which means that the prospects for the aquacul-
impact on the development of the tourism industry.
opment Goals (SDGs) and focuses on the most important issues
ture sector look very favourable for Suriname.
with the most impact, in a realistic yet ambitious manner.
The coming years our focus will be on improving sustainable
92 93