Investor

Do you want to invest in a company in Suriname?

DISCOVER SURINAME is the investment and trade promotion program of Suriname. Discover Suriname focuses on increasing foreign direct investments in local producers and suppliers in Suriname. Here you can find out how you, as an investor, can invest in a startup or local company in Suriname.

Why Suriname?

Did you know that Suriname is the place to be to invest in many different industries?

Why?

This is because there are a lot of unused agricultural areas where full-scale and sustainable production for pineapple, coconut, cassava, and citrus fruits can easily be started up.

And not only in the agri sector or in the food sector, but also in many other areas like high tech and tourism, there are many opportunities, as long as you keep your company and business model focused on sustainability.

Suriname has decided that 93% of the country will stay a forest, untouched by human activity. 7% of the country may be used for sustainable industries.

As a reference: The island of Java in Indonesia is almost as big as Suriname. Java has 140 million inhabitants, Suriname has only 600.000. Java has a GDP of 500 billion USD (50% of Indonesia's GDP), while Suriname has only 3.5 billion USD. This all shows Suriname has room for growth.

So if you want to invest in a young, small production company to start exporting to Brazil, the US, or the EU, you have everything you need in Suriname.

Changing From Agriculture to Agribusiness

Suriname has the long-term vision of becoming the main exporter in Caricom for fruits, vegetables, and meat.

And for this to happen, investors are needed to help both LMEs and SMEs grow and enable startups to start. We need to enrich farms with business principles.

Various small companies that are out there are currently looking for funding to grow, innovate, and work more efficiently.

If you, for instance, are looking to invest in cassava and biodegradable cassava bags, we have companies available, you can start with tomorrow.

Below you see pictures of a small cassava plant in Suriname, near the airport and the harbor. It is an example of an SME, like many others in Suriname, seeking growth funding to capitalize on many export opportunities.

The main crops in Suriname are rice, sugar, plantains and bananas, citrus fruits, coffee, coconuts, and palm oil, in addition to staple food crops. Except for rice, the main export crop, plantation agriculture has suffered from absentee ownership. Rice production was 180,000 tons in 1999. Sugar production dropped substantially in the 1980s, prompting imports to meet local demand. Under union pressure, the government in early 1987 agreed to a national sugar plan to improve machinery and housing and to create employment. Production of sugar cane in 1999 was 90,000 tons; of bananas, 55,000 tons; of plantains, 13,000 tons; of oranges, 12,000 tons; and of coconuts, 9,000 tons.

Since its creation in 1945, the Commission for the Application of Mechanized Techniques to Agriculture in Suriname has worked to reactivate several old plantations and bring new land under cultivation. The successful control of diseases and pests, the introduction of water storage and irrigation schemes, and the development of new, quick-growing rice varieties have also increased total agricultural production.

Infrastructure and Logistics

Suriname has one large seaport and one large airport and no direct highways to Brazil (yet). In the coming years, Suriname plans to build many more roads, railroads, and bridges.

Near Suriname (1500km - 2000 km), there are several cities in Brazil with over 2 million people that can be reached for export. The city of Bogotá, Colombia, is only 4,000 km away and has 9 million people.

So, because of its location on top of Brazil, there is a large amount of transport and logistics business opportunities waiting to be realized.

Agritech Valley in Coronie

In November, an Agritech valley will be started up in the Coronie district, giving Surinamese students and foreign entrepreneurs and investors the great opportunity to start up any agritech company they want (as long as it is sustainable).

In 2018, the Suriname government restored roads in the Coronie district, unlocking the potential for that area.

It is now possible to start an Agritech valley in Coronie because all infrastructure is now available: roads, electricity, cell phone coverage, wifi internet, canals, access to a sea harbor, and a small airport. And all this in the middle of a rainforest. Please note that everything grows on its own. The soil is very fertile, and every day the temperature is between 25℃ and 32℃ (77F- 90F).

Vertical Farming, Seed Advancement, Crop Yield increase. For any topic, investors are invited to visit this new incubator and attend a presentation by young entrepreneurs at the expo in the valley.

Ecotourism

Suriname is committed to preserving the Amazon for future generations.

This gives room for many opportunities in Ecotourism. To name a few facilities: currently in Suriname, there are only two major hotels, one small national zoo, no big national indoor swimming pool, and no theme park.

In Suriname, there are opportunities for electric cars, taxis, green buses, exciting hiking trails, eco lodges just outside Paramaribo, expo companies, eco theme parks, and much more.

If you are an investor in the area of tourism and hospitality, you will have unlimited possibilities.

For instance, you can provide holidays to areas that are and will be without any modern Western facilities or commerce. The only thing you can eat, drink, or do comes directly from nature.

Renewable Energy

As part of the green policies in Suriname, we are looking to promote the usage of solar panels, wind energy, and water energy.

Innovative startups are welcomed very much for that in Suriname.

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY: OFFSHORE WIND FARM IN THE SURINAMESE OCEAN

This picture shows an example of an offshore wind energy farm. Suriname has opportunities to invest in wind energy. For more information, contact FDI BIBIS or the embassy in Brussels.

High Tech and Clean Tech

We invite investors to startup incubators and accelerators for high tech and cleantech. With Suriname positioned at the top of South America and Brazil and other major countries as close neighbors, the production and export opportunities for high-tech and clean-tech are enormous.

Did you know that Suriname is one of the best places on earth to launch rockets and satellites? (read more about this on the About Suriname page)

Suriname has a large territory on the sea. There is an opportunity to launch nanosatellites to measure the ocean's climate in detail. And there are countless opportunities in the fish industry.

Suriname currently has no high-tech industry, cleantech, or aerospace industry. If you are an investor in this area, we are happy to provide you with details on the specific start-ups and opportunities available.

More Business Opportunities

Suriname offers more investment opportunities than can be listed. But to give you an idea, we have an example list here.
Business Opportunities

Foreign Direct Investments

For foreign investors, there are hardly any limitations on what they can do.

It is important to know for the business or company you want to invest in, whether it needs certain licenses or permits, or whether it needs a certain minimum number of employees from Suriname.

This all can be made clear by visiting Suriname for a fact-finding mission and/or contacting the Department of Trade.

For more information on this, contact us via the contact details on this page, or contact FDI BIBIS or the Department of Trade directly:

Santander Trade about investing in Suriname

NewEuropeanEconomy: Suriname is ideal for Foreign Direct Investment

Important Contacts for Investors

Investors who consider investing in Suriname are required to send a signed letter to FDI BIBIS with their clear intentions and objectives. Next, due diligence will be undertaken.