Strategic Agricultural Export Plan Suriname

Towards 35 Billion EURO GDP

How can Suriname realize a GDP of 35 billion euros?

In 2019, Suriname had a GDP of only 3.5 billion euros.

For comparison: Israel had a GDP of 370 billion euros in 2019.

What is GDP?

Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is the monetary value of all goods and services made within a country during a specific period. GDP provides an economic snapshot of a country, used to measure how well it is doing and how rich its population is or can become.

Facts of Suriname

There are many untouched and unrealized export opportunities by Surinamese entrepreneurs, given the following facts:

Population of almost 600.000 people, having a unique mix of cultures
Covered for 93% withthe Amazon Forest, with spectacular nature
Dutch and English speaking
7 times the size of Israel, 6 times the size of Belgium
Almost the same size as Florida and the island of Java
The department Coronie is 5 times the size of Singapore
Only two 4-star hotels
Only 1 university
Only 1 small airport and seaport
A large sea territory (country plus sea is the size of Germany)
Only 2000 companies with over 5 employees
No company making over 100 million euros per year
Only 1 large city: Paramaribo, a beautiful, historical, colorful, and colonial capital
No trains or uninterrupted highways to cities in other countries
Only 140.000 tourists yearly (meaning people who have no relatives and visit the country not for business)
Very, very fertile for fruits and vegetables
Having a unique blended food culture and culinary tradition
Having a unique arsenal of discovered and undiscovered medicinal plants
Many, many natural resources, like a huge fresh water reservoir, gold, and oil.
A potential gateway to Northern Brazil and a hub for South America
Free trade agreements with all the CariCom countries

Some of these facts are considered a problem, like not having many inhabitants, but in fact, they are the basis for creating an enormous amount of business opportunities.

For a fact, it is very interesting to note that the department of Coronie is 5 times the size of Singapore, where Singapore has a GDP of 360 billion euros and a population of 5 million people.

And know that in 1965, the Dutch and Americans launched 4 small rockets from Coronie. This means that anything can be done in Suriname.

Below we are summing up major export opportunities, including their expected revenue, related to what other countries are doing.

Whether you are a Surinamese farmer or foreign entrepreneur, investor,r or student, this information will help you either get started or improve your agribusiness in Suriname.

The vision and strategy of Discover Suriname on Export

Discover Suriname envisions that in the near and far future, sustainably produced agricultural products and services from Suriname are needed and wanted in the near and far export destinations.

One of the reasons is that there will be a huge worldwide food shortage within 30 years, according to scientists.

To be able to realize the potential export volume, three challenges need to be dealt with.

Ambitious export goals require a realistic, focused, and detailed plan
Surinamese entrepreneurs need to be visible to their potential foreign clients and investors
Surinamese Entrepreneurs need to be able produce in a modern, sustainable, tech-driven way and comply with regulations to be able to export

Discover Suriname is confident that it can play a role in dealing with these challenges together with Suriname entrepreneurs.

The rest of this page explores these three challenges and comes up with an action plan that, once carried out, will contribute to more exports and thus a higher GDP of Suriname.

The Concept: Suriname as Agribusiness Technology Region

Discover Suriname is in favor of turning Suriname into an Agribusiness Technology Region (or AgriTech Region), where companies, education, and government work closely together.

In the first phase, in 2020 and 2021, Discover Suriname wants to focus on what entrepreneurs can already do, without large investments from investors or huge involvement of the government.

In the second and third phases, new infrastructures and facilities could be set up, where the involvement of investors and the government is needed.

Example of Export Opportunities to CariCom

Bardados, with a population of 300.000 people, is only 1064 kilometers away from Suriname.

As claimed by Prime Minister Mottley of Barbados, it currently imports a total of 4 billion euros of goods and services from outside CariCom.

The import of fruits, vegetables, cheese, milk, fish, and meat by Barbados in 2019 totaled over 50 million euros. External Link to import data on Barbados. (trendeconomy.com)

The Suriname Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has reported to Discover Suriname that Suriname exported less than 1 million EURO to the whole of CariCom in 2019.

The 15 member states and 5 associate members of CariCom should be good for over 4 billion euros of total export from Suriname, with at least 1 billion euros of fruit and vegetable exports.

Reasons for this failing export are mainly due to 3 reasons:

There is no effective production and export plan
Surinamese producers/farmers are invisible to foreign prospects/buyers/importers
A knowledge gap at Surinamese companies on IT and modern farming technologies

The good thing is that all these three problems can and will be solved, and this without significant financial investments.

Example of Opportunities in Global Trade

There are 193 countries worldwide.

The following website shows the embassies that Suriname has: https://www.embassypages.com/suriname.

Even though not all the data on that website is updated real time, it gives a good indication of what is missing as part of an international trade structure: a lot of embassies, chambers of commerce and known points of contact.

Suriname has no visible or active presence in over 170 countries.

Most investors and entrepreneurs worldwide have never heard of Suriname and its enormous opportunities at all. Discover Suriname, a program and website with the sole focus on resolving that: making sure that every investor, entrepreneur, and student worldwide knows about Suriname and its opportunities.

For instance, in the Philippines, there are over 100 million people. It is estimated that fewer than 100,000 people in this country know where Suriname is on a map, that Paramaribo is the capital, and that Dutch is the official language. Suriname has no embassy or chamber of commerce in the Philippines, while the Philippines could be a great re-export opportunity for Suriname and for immigrants.

The Export Plan

This list shows realistic direct export and re-export goals for 2020/2021:

Fresh Water Export	€1 B
Juices	€1 B
Fish and Seafood	€1 B
Meat	€0,5 B
Rice	€0,5 B
Cacao	€0,5 B
Coffee	€0,4 B
Banana	€0,2 B
Coconut	€0,2 B
Pineapple	€0,1 B
Cassave	€0,1 B
Sweet Cherries	€0,1 B
Other Fruits & Vegetables	€1 B
--------------------------------------	-----
Total estimated export:	€6,6 B

Fresh Water Export

Suriname is currently not exporting fresh water. It is estimated that this could generate annual revenue of 1 billion euros.

Key thing here is that knowledge has to be gained on how to comply with internal standards.

Banana, Coconut and Pineapple

Because of ease, knowledge, and history in growing Banana, Pineapple, and Coconut, export is estimated for these three products together at over 0,5 billion euros.

The challenge here is knowledge on disease control and efficienct of growing the products and innovating the product: how can we grow a resistant and future banana?

Expertise centers for these three products should be set up, also having a clear website where entrepreneurs can find a lot of information on how to grow these products successfully in Suriname.

Cassave Potatos and Chips

- to be done -

Re Export

- to be done -

Other Fruits and Vegetables

- to be done -

Sweet Cherries

Chile exports more than 1 billion euros' worth of cherries to China. Suriname does not have any significant exports to China.

Main Export Destinations

The main export destinations for fruits and vegetables from Suriname could be:

Barbados
Other CariCom countries
Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao
Belgium / EU
The Netherlands
United States
China

Seven Economic Pillars and Projects

Next to starting to produce, export, and re-export as Surinamese entrepreneurs, the country of Suriname should start seven long-term projects that provide infrastructure and facilities to all entrepreneurs.

These projects are:

FTZ: 5 Free Trade Zones (like a copy of Singapore and Miami)
LOGISTICS: Highways and Railways with other capitals and distribution centers
TECH EDUCATION: 30 Foreign Universities (student immigration)
TECH FARMING: Agritech Valleys and Expertise Centers for product categories
INFRASTRUCTURE: Business Districts (like Clarke City or Makati City in thePhilippiness)
TRADE: Build a global trade structure: setting up Surinamese importers in 180 countries and starting up bilateral chambers of commerce.
LARGE COMPANIES: Get 10 to 30 big international companies to start an innovation plant or subsidiary in Suriname.

These projects are not a prerequisite for 35 GDP, but enable growth beyond 35 GDP towards an economy like Florida or Singapore

The Discover Suriname Action Plan

In the above part of this page, the various export opportunities are listed.

To set things in motion and start to realize the export opportunities, key activities need to be started up.

Discover Suriname is looking forward to executing these activities in collaboration with other parties or being supportive of them.

The key activities that we mention here are:

To create a list of 100 great Agribusiness companies in Suriname. The criteria for this will be developed together with knowledgeable people in Suriname on this matter.
To motivate and support at least these 100 companies, or better said, the entrepreneurs, in upgrading their business and organization via information, templates, and training resources (presentations, articles) on this website.
To make these companies and their entrepreneurs more visible to the outside world via this website.
To promote the country of Suriname and its investment and trade opportunities in 193 countries via this website.
To stimulate the associations and consultants in Suriname support all companies in Suriname that seek support, to upgrade their business and organization.
To search in 193 countries for importers, investors, and partners and place the information on this website.
To stimulate the Surinamese entrepreneurs, foreign importers, and investors contact each other.
To start up an AgriTech Valley in Coronie and other parts of Suriname.
To help start up bilateral chambers of commerce with Suriname in other countries.
To help set up Surinamese importers and Surinamese companies in other countries.
To help start up expertise centers in Suriname for various product categories.
To help organize fact-finding trade missions to and from Suriname.

Discover Suriname knows that proactively sharing knowledge and information will reduce the knowledge gap that some Surinamese entrepreneurs have.

Discover Suriname is not responsible or accountable for the results of every individual entrepreneur.

We only support entrepreneurs who are interested in becoming better at doing business and running their organization.

Of course, there is no guarantee that every entrepreneur will produce more and make more money with their company.

The Entrepreneurs Action Plan

Do you need the government or money to start producing and exporting? No, not right away!

There are many things every entrepreneur can do before they need the government for, let's say, permits and funding for, let's say, equipment.

Seven very important activities to start up by Surinamese farmers and or foreign investors, entrepreneurs, and students are:

Educate yourself in new technologies, like robotics, mechatronics, insect farming and hydro culture
Educate yourself in export regulations
Write a business plan
Build a professional english website
Find your first 10 prospects or clients
Update your business plan and website based on feedback you get
Iterate these activities
Collaborate with other entrepreneurs

1. How to educate yourself in new technologies

On the internet, you can search for resources in new agribusiness technologies. Websites like Google, YouTube, Slideshare, and Vimeo have many videos and presentations on new technologies.

Also, many universities worldwide provide information on new technologies.

2. How to find prospects or clients

A company needs clients. So entrepreneurs should always be on the lookout for new clients.

But that also involves what you are offering as products or services to prospects.

One way of finding new prospects and clients is looking on the internet for who is buying products (like an importer or buyer).

And next, you call them up or contact them in another way and discuss your offerings with them.

3. How to collaborate with other entrepreneurs

Collaboration with other entrepreneurs is not that hard to start up.

First, go to meetings of various business clubs and associations, in person or online (webinars).

Make sure to speak to a lot of potential partners every week.

Next, you think of the objectives you want to realize with a collaboration.

Develop a pithy story about collaboration to use when engaging a potential partner.

Develop a plan and timeline for collaboration.

These are the first steps that help you on your way in collaborating with other entrepreneurs.

Modern Agribusiness means IT, Data, and Robotics

It may sound strange, but in today's world, an agribusiness company is becoming more and more an IT company and robotics company that provides data to the farmer to be able to farm very efficiently and has a lot of equipment that can grow and harvest very efficiently.

Doing business in modern times with IT and robotics (or mechatronics) is not very complicated, but requires some skills. So it's not strange to look for help and start to collaborate. It is, in fact, very smart to do.

Share Information and Knowledge. Collaborate and Educate

Surinamese entrepreneurs have many opportunities to realize. It is really like picking low-hanging fruit.

Sharing information and knowledge is key when you are not yet a rich entrepreneur.

The more you share information and knowledge, the more you will see you get in return.

Another key thing is collaborate and educate. Two can do so much more than one. Every entrepreneur who tries to become a market leader on their own will mostly fail.

On Discover Suriname, we advise starting a company in Suriname with at least five people: A financial and product director, a sales and marketing manager, and 3 workers. And we advise building a partnership with at least two other companies where you share information, knowledge, and leads with.

When looking at the collaboration agreement between Suriname and Barbados, Surinamese entrepreneurs could consider getting in contact with entrepreneurs from Barbados and produce together.

Read this Export page on that

Get Support for Business Development

If you are a Surinamese Farmer and want to get help in starting up or improving your company, you can contact any of the following organizations and people:

Organizations

KKF - www.surinamechamber.com
SVB
SBF
Asfa
VEAPS

Consultants

Smart Consultancy, Ruud Souverein
Martin Panday
Swami Girdhari
Monique Lew
Pierre van Zichem

Also, many universities and governments worldwide have people and resources that are very willing to share knowledge for free (up to a certain point) and help innovate.