diversity drives a growing economy
ALTHOUGH MINING AND AGRICULTURE REMAIN SURINAME'S MOST LUCRATIVE FOREIGN EXCHANGE EARNERS, THE THREE INTER-RELATED SECTORS OF TRANSPORT, COMMUNICATIONS AND TOURISM ARE SHAPING UP AS THE FUTURE PRIME MOVERS OF AN ACCERELATING AND INCREASINGLY DIVERSE ECONOMY

The Surinamese economy is among the 20 richest on the planet in terms of natural resources. The tiny former Dutch colony on the northern coast of South America sits on top of billions of barrels of untapped oil reserves and is one of the world’s top producers of bauxite, the raw material in the production of aluminum. Gold, diamonds, platinum, manganese, copper, nickel and iron ore complete the list of mostly unexploited metals and minerals that, along with agriculture, have become the undisputed pillars of the Suriname economy.
Four-fifths of Suriname is covered by rainforest, another natural resource that doesn’t need to be mined or pumped from the ground. In fact, the secret of exploiting this resource’s potential lies in keeping it just the way it is.
Through the preservation of its Amazon rainforest, Suriname hopes to spur a blossoming eco-tourism industry into becoming a major economic force. And tourism, the government says, along with transportation and communications, comprises another important pillar of economic development–a three-tiered pillar that would crumble if any of the parts were removed.

The fact that a Ministry of Transport, Communications and Tourism exists in Suriname is a clear indication of how inseparable these sectors are in the government’s scheme of things. And according to the holder of that ministerial portfolio, Guno Castelen, most of the focus must be placed on tourism, “the promotion of which is one of the major objectives of my ministry.”

Tourism, he says, is the common denominator that will spur growth in both the transport and telecommunications industries and is an attractive sector in which to invest because of the relatively low development costs.
Mr. Castelen acknowledges, however, that overseeing a three-tiered pillar requires a strong sense of balance; luckily he has the full support of the government, the international community and of the business leaders of the sectors in which his ministry operates.

The Maritime Authority of Suriname (MAS), for example, has played a key role in the country’s drive to become a more export-oriented economy by making sure that the sector’s infrastructure can keep products moving at a safe and steady pace through the country’s rivers and seaports.
MAS works closely with the country’s port authority, N.V. Havenbeheer Suriname, which is hoping to make the Port of Paramaribo a transshipment point for Guyana, French Guyana and northern Brazil. A US$20 million European Union funded project to modernize the port will go a long way towards turning that hope into reality.
And while Suriname’s many rivers provide tourists with the transportation means needed to reach the most secluded jungle reserves, getting the tourists to the country in the first place is a bit trickier.
In the mid-1990s, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) stripped Suriname of its so-called Category I status, which has prevented the national flag carrier, Surinam Airways (SLM), from flying its jets into the United States to pick up eco-tourists.

The problem stems from an outdated civil aviation law that is now under revision, and not because of any safety violations on the airline’s part. New legislation is due to pass soon, after which the FAA will upgrade the category and SLM will once again be on its way to Miami and striking up joint venture deals with other international carriers.
The tourist industry will also get a boost from improvements being carried out at the Zanderij airport, including either the construction of a new arrival hall or the renovation of the old one. And if lawmakers go ahead with plans to eventually adopt an open skies policy, one can expect to see the number of visitors to Suriname skyrocket.
All these developments are taking place just as the state-owned telecommunications company Telesur is making great strides towards fulfilling its commitment to provide the nation, secluded interior tourist destinations included, with a viable communications network.
As Mr. Castelen notes, “Americans are used to an easy life. They want optimal service. So it is important for them to know that an untouched interior is here waiting for them, and as they venture into the deepest parts of our Amazon rainforest, they will remain in touch with home.”