Suriname took a strategic step in its social and economic development on June 9, 2025 with the official kickoff of the annual Financial Inclusion for Latin America & the Caribbean (FILAC) Summit. Led by the Central Bank of Suriname, in collaboration with the Alliance for Financial Inclusion (AFI), Paramaribo transformed for two days into the hub where experts from government, business and civil society met to definitively break down financial barriers for vulnerable groups.
Governor Maurice Roemer opened the conference along with Guadelope Escobar, chair of the FILAC Expert Group on Financial Inclusion Policy, stressing that true progress is only possible when every Surinamese has unfettered access to payment, savings and credit services. Inclusive financial instruments, he said, are the cornerstone of resilient communities and sustainable entrepreneurial initiatives, essential to promote both economic growth and social well-being.
A variety of innovative solutions were discussed during interactive panels and workshops. For example, mobile payment solutions were presented that, without an internet connection, still allow fishermen in Coronie and agricultural workers in Sipaliwini to access digital services. Green loans with social returns outline a future in which small-scale entrepreneurs are encouraged to apply climate-friendly techniques with lower interest rates. For migrant workers, the use of blockchain platforms promises to dramatically reduce the transaction costs of remittances, allowing their families back home to benefit directly from increased purchasing power. At the same time, the importance of a strong consumer protection framework was stressed, with a central hotline for deceptive credit schemes and clear education pathways to strengthen trust in financial institutions. All these initiatives came about within a public-private "inclusion ecosystem," in which fintech startups, credit unions and regulators jointly test and scale up innovative pilots.
For Suriname, cooperation within AFI/FILAC provides concrete added value. Knowledge exchange with Latin American peers accelerates the adoption of proven policy instruments and lowers implementation costs, while technological cooperation, for example through shared API standards, can provide economies of scale for the local fintech sector. Moreover, our active contribution to international best practices strengthens Suriname's reputation as a proactive player in sustainable financial development.
On June 10, the conference concluded with the "Paramaribo Action Agenda," in which the Central Bank and AFI agreed to scale up the local pilots presented over the next 12 months. With this, Suriname is taking a leading role in the race toward a resilient, inclusive economy in which every citizen can participate fully.
