During the concluded Aviation Congress, where all stakeholders were represented, the President stressed that direct investment is inevitable to address the biggest bottlenecks in the sector. She therefore announced a targeted allocation of US$ 5 million, after which hands can roll up their sleeves immediately to upgrade critical infrastructure.
Of this amount, over 40 percent will go to NV Luchthavenbeheer, the operator of our airport facilities, while the remaining 60 percent is earmarked for the CASAS Civil Aviation Authority. The funds will be used to purchase modern navigation and landing systems and thoroughly modernize existing radar technology, among other things.
A second pillar of the recovery plan concerns air traffic control capacity. Currently, only ten of the required twenty-five air traffic controllers perform their duties. Through targeted retraining programs and the deployment of advanced simulation modules, that shortfall is being rapidly reduced.
The national airline (SLM) is also receiving temporary support. With a bridging loan from Grassalco for two to three months, SLM can operate under government supervision and work out a sustainable recovery plan together with a team of lawyers and aviation experts. Privatization is thus off the table for now; the "flag carrier" remains under state authority.
Although in-depth reforms of the entire chain will take more time, the cabinet guarantees that all safety and operational processes will be fully in place before the start of oil and gas extraction activities in 2028.
These urgent interventions are especially necessary as Suriname is currently denied access to airports within the European Union due to its EU blacklist status.
This investment will allow Suriname's aviation infrastructure to rapidly modernize and become safer. Reliable navigation and radar systems strengthen the confidence of international carriers, while more trained air traffic controllers ensure operational continuity. This improves our country's accessibility and opens doors for growth in tourism, trade and new investments.
