At this early stage of this new government mandate, it is crucial that from day one, undivided attention is given to clear policy formulation. Without a consistent line of policy, ministries work past each other and the implementation of objectives is diluted. By 2024, the Surinamese economy grew by 3.0 percent, to a nominal size of $4.51 billion. These figures demonstrate both growth and the need for sharp steering.
To ensure that focus, all ministries must align their programs and budgets unreservedly with those central policy priorities. For example, under the Sustainable Agricultural Productivity Program, the Inter-American Development Bank is funding investments in irrigation and drainage systems in Nickerie and Brokopondo, with the goal of increasing rice production by at least 15 percent by 2026. This requires close cooperation between Agriculture, Finance for budget allocation and Public Works for infrastructure.
A second example is the offshore oil industry. The $10 billion investment by TotalEnergies in Block 58, with first production in 2028, could generate up to USD 7 billion in additional revenue in the first five years . To prevent this abundance of revenues from leading to "Dutch disease," an integrated roadmap of Energy, Finance, Infrastructure and Spatial Planning is indispensable, the fiscal incentives for new sectors, strict monitoring of currency flows and targeted investments in logistics and digital connectivity.
At the same time, investment in human capital is needed. While the gold sector accounts for 60-80 percent of exports and contributed about 8.5 percent to GDP in 2021, in education and health, funding still often squeezes growing sectors. By explicitly linking Education and Health to priority economic clusters with training programs for technical and commercial skills, we better prepare the labor market for transition.
Only by strategically linking policy, budget and implementation from day one will coherent government programs emerge that can sustainably grow Suriname. The next five years are the ultimate test, because with a well-oiled policy machine, Suriname can maximize its natural resources, human capital and international collaborations.
