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There are some serious opportunities in Suriname, now it sets up a new course.
Dimitri Lemmer
Management Executive at CDWE Suriname /CEO Consolidated Resources Suriname NVManagement Executive at CDWE Suriname /CEO Consolidated Resources Suriname NV
Suriname is poised for its next growth chapter. To unlock it, we must do two things at once: attract bona fide, well‑capitalized foreign investors and empower credible Surinamese entrepreneurs—especially our SMEs—to scale. That dual focus will diversify our economy, create durable jobs, and build resilient, locally rooted value chains.
* Free (accelerated) depreciation on
qualifying capital assets—improves
project IRR from day one.
* Interest deduction of 6% on
equity‑financed investments (min.
US$100,000), with a multi‑year
runway.
* Investment allowance: 20% in
designated regions or 10% for
approved green technologies (min.
US$20,000 per asset).
* Income‑tax holiday: 100% for the first
3 years, then 60% for the next 7
(subject to sector and scale
conditions).
* Duty‑free import of capital goods +
partial statistics‑duty relief—cuts
capex and speeds modernization.
* Group relief: horizontal loss offset
between a parent and wholly owned
subsidiary—useful for greenfield
build‑outs.
* Property & concessions: transparent
guidelines with a 90‑day timeline to
grant land/concession rights—vital
for bankability.
* Protection & arbitration: equal
treatment, repatriation rights,
compensation standards, and ICSID/
UNCITRAL pathways.
The message to investors is simple: Suriname is open for business—with modern protections, clear incentives, a serious local‑content pathway, and a government–private sector team determined to deliver.
Pro‑business diplomacy: an energized diplomatic corps, “Invest Suriname” desks in key capitals, and disciplined follow‑through with SITA—that will make Suriname shine.
The investor signal: clear rules, one front door. Serious capital chases predictability. Suriname’s draft Investment Law 2025 is designed to send exactly that signal—modern rules, equal treatment for local and foreign investors, guaranteed profit repatriation after taxes, strong protection against expropriation, and access to national courts or international arbitration (ICSID/UNCITRAL) when disputes arise.
A compact for diversification
Suriname’s growth story is broader than oil & gas. With the right policy stack we can simultaneously scale agriculture and agro‑processing, forestry/NTFPs, renewable energy, specialized services (including digital), tourism and medical tourism, and light industry. A workforce & migration plan should match these priorities, mobilizing diaspora skills and CARICOM mobility where needed—while upskilling locals to take over and move up the ladder.
