Suriname and Curaçao have signed an agreement to promote trade and economic cooperation as President Chandrikapersad “Chan” Santokhi ends his official visit to the Dutch-speaking country.
The state-owned Communication Service Suriname said that the agreement is an important step towards closer economic ties between the two countries.
The Framework Agreement Partial Scope Trade Agreement was signed by Foreign Affairs, International Business and International Cooperation (Bibis) Minister, Albert Ramdin and his counterpart Charles Cooper in the presence of President Santokhi and Prime Minister Gilmar Pisas.
“This agreement is the result of a long process, in which we have worked together intensively and held discussions with the government of Curaçao. It symbolizes a new chapter in our historical and family ties, but especially in our economic cooperation”, said Ramdin.
“When this agreement is implemented, it is essential that we cooperate on a practical level, both between ministers and on a technical level. The success of this agreement depends on our joint efforts to make it work,” he added.
During his visit, President Santokhi held bilateral talks with the Governor of Curaçao, Lucille George-Wout and welcomed the country’s interest in the Surinamese oil and gas production, with special attention to the environmental aspects.
“The bond between our peoples is inseparable and manifests itself in many ways, especially through the strong presence of the Surinamese community in Curaçao. It is an honour to be here and to deepen the ties between our countries,” he said.
President Santokhi has invited Curaçao to actively participate in the oil and gas sector.
“Suriname is on the threshold of an unprecedented economic opportunity through the commercial development of oil and gas in our territorial waters.
“Financial institutions in Curaçao can play a crucial role in supporting this growth, especially by responding to the financing needs of Surinamese companies that want to provide services to this emerging sector,” he said.
For her part, Governor George-Wout, who has Surinamese roots, expressed her appreciation for the strong historical bond between the two countries and emphasized the importance of further cooperation in various areas.
“The relationship between Curaçao and Suriname is based on shared values and a shared history. It is now time to explore how we can strengthen those ties, especially in the economic field.”
In addition to oil and gas, other economic sectors were discussed, including trade in wood products, agriculture and tourism.
“Economic diversification, with the tourism sector as a spearhead, offers enormous opportunities for cooperation between our countries. By joining forces, we can grow our economies and bring our peoples closer together,” Santokhi added.