Georgetown, Guyana – Suriname successfully concluded its participation in the International Business Conference (IBC) 2025 in Georgetown, Guyana (October 14–16). The mission, spearheaded by a high-level government delegation and the Suriname Investment and Trade Agency (SITA), centered on positioning the nation as a stable, strategic partner for sustainable trade and investment within the CARICOM region.
Suriname’s presence at the conference significantly amplified its visibility, providing a crucial platform to promote the country’s long-term economic strategy and facilitate direct business connections.
Suriname Sets National Vision for Sustainable Growth
Suriname’s strategic vision for inclusive and sustainable development was prominently championed by its high-level delegation:
- Ministerial Representation: The delegation featured both H.E. Minister Andrew Baasaron of Economic Affairs, Entrepreneurship, and Technological Innovation (EZOTI) and H.E. Minister Bouva of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Trade & Cooperation, who participated on behalf of President Jennifer Geerlings-Simons.
- Keynote and Policy Focus: Minister Bouva delivered a pivotal address, underscoring the deep historical and cultural ties with Guyana and the shared ambition for durable prosperity, energy security, and inclusive development. Crucially, the Minister stressed that while the oil and gas sector is a recent development, it must be viewed as only one component of a broader national strategy focused on economic diversification and innovation.
- High-Level Dialogue: Both Minister Baasaron and Minister Bouva participated in the executive panel discussion, “Regional Powerhouses in Action – Guyana & Regional Partners Shared Vision for Growth,” which presented a unified regional view on aligning policies across infrastructure, trade, and investment to drive sustainable growth.
- Endorsing SITA’s Role: Minister Bouva explicitly welcomed foreign investors and partners, directing them to utilize SITA as the central point of contact for all investment and cooperation initiatives, formally affirming the agency’s key facilitation role.
Investment Facilitation Yields Opportunities
Working in alignment with the national policy framework, the SITA delegation focused on securing direct commercial and trade opportunities for Suriname.
- Trade and Partnerships: Productive discussions were initiated with the EU Caribbean Commission and Caribbean Export, building pathways for joint initiatives and enhancing Surinamese businesses’ access to regional and international markets.
- Surinamese Businesses Engaged: The SITA-facilitated Suriname Pavilion provided a crucial platform for participating local companies, such as RCFA and Trust Bank Amanah, to engage directly with potential partners, successfully fostering new business and regional expansion connections.
Forward Outlook for Suriname
“The strong performance at IBC, with our high-level political backing and concrete commercial interest, sets an excellent trajectory for Suriname,” noted a SITA representative. “The clear articulation of our national strategy by the Ministerial delegation, emphasizing diversification and stability”.
SITA is now prioritizing immediate, tailored follow-up with all high-interest contacts. The goal is to swiftly convert this interest into tangible results for Suriname by facilitating fact-finding missions and site visits for potential investors, thereby accelerating investment in the non-extractive sectors critical to the nation’s long-term economic stability.
