PARAMARIBO, Suriname – President Jennifer Simons has returned from a four-day visit to the United Kingdom optimistic of greater international involvement in the oil and gas sector in Suriname.
President Jennifer Simons returns to Suriname after four day successful visit to the United Kingdom (CDS Photo)“The people have been positive, and I am positive about that too. The ultimate goal is for Suriname to receive support from major financial institutions around the world for the trajectory we are now entering,” Simons said on her return at the Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport.
“There was an invitation to speak with the top management of Bank of America, as well as with other companies involved in finance and the oil and gas sector. As a country, we are facing major developments, and it is particularly important now to establish the right contacts, obtain information, and organize international backing,”
President Simons said the discussions with representatives of international financial institutions and companies from the oil and gas sector yielded valuable contacts that are important for Suriname’s economic future.
Simons, who headed a delegation that included the Minister of Finance and Planning, Adelien Wijnerman, said the talks focused on strengthening international partnerships and attracting investments to support Suriname’s economic development.
She described the visit as “working mission” noting that discussions were held with the top officials of the Bank of America and other international organisations and companies active in the financial world and the oil and gas sector.
“Suriname is on the eve of major developments. Precisely now, it is important to establish the right contacts, gain knowledge, and organize international support,” said Simons, indicating that the discussions focused primarily on the economic transition Suriname will undergo in the coming years, partly due to expected oil and gas revenues.
“There will be revenues from oil and gas, and we must handle them well. All information and expertise that can guide us in the development of, among other things, a sovereign wealth fund are necessary,” she said adding that international expertise is indispensable for managing these resources responsibly.
A report by the state-owned Suriname Communication Service (CDS) noted that Simons spoke of constructive meetings and expressed satisfaction with the willingness of international financial institutions to support Suriname.
“We will have to do a lot in our country during this transition phase, such as the further development of the airport and other sectors. Therefore, it is very important to maintain good international contacts and make agreements,” she added.
