Suriname

Suriname offers sound and attractive opportunities in several areas.

Significant areas of underutilized land suitable are available for agriculture. Also opportunities for large-scale agricultural production of oil palm, production of crude palm oil, refining and downstream activities exist.

There is also significant potential for developing agro-processing activities based on domestic food crops.

With regard to bananas, following important investments in infrastructure under the EU’s Banana Accompanying Measures programme, the Government is currently negotiating the privatization of the state-owned Stichting Bananenbehoud Suriname (SBBS).

Investment in general services, and especially in market and rural infrastructure, enhances competitiveness of domestic production and promotes long-term economic growth. The majority of these services consist of investments in irrigation infrastructure. Analysis shows that additional investments in other areas of general services, such as research, credit and extension, are needed to increase the sector’s competitiveness in the long run.

Agriculture is a strong component of the economy, especially with regards to rice, bananas and shrimp.

As listed in the Agriculture Sector Support in Suriname by Derlagen (2013), the three major agricultural export activities are as follows:

• Bananas are currently Suriname’s most important agricultural export product with the sole driving force being the state-owned company Stichting Bananenbehoud Suriname (SBBS). Since its restructuring, levels of production reached 85,017 tons in 2011 with banana exports amounting to 68,138 tons. However, the private sector and the government have acknowledged the only way to continue stability is through privatisation
• Rice is showing an upward production trend and has been consistently producing levels above 200,000 tons since 2009. Current activities to support the sector include improvement of the infrastructure, higher levels of product quality and increased access to finance for producers and processors
• Cassava has received interest from the government and private investors to boost its production for processing flour. Recent activities include 800 farmers receiving training on cassava cultivation in 2013