The Power of diversity:
Suriname an oasis
of opportunity
SITA is Suriname’s national investment and trade promotion agency. We help investors set up in Suriname and help international buyers source from Suriname.
ABOUT SURINAME
Quick facts
Strategic location
On the northeast coast of South America, bordering Brazil, Guyana and French Guiana. A gateway to more than 650 million consumers in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Fast-growing economy
GDP of US$5.91 billion (2026), with average annual growth forecast at 14.4% for 2026 to 2031. The US$10.5 billion GranMorgu offshore project starts production in 2028.
Dutch and English
Dutch is the official language and most workers also speak fluent English. Suriname has the largest Dutch-speaking workforce outside Europe.
Competitive costs
Suriname offers competitive operating costs compared with the rest of the region, including labour and office space.
Market access
CARICOM member with duty-free access to about 19 million Caribbean consumers, and duty-free, quota-free access to the EU under the CARIFORUM-EU EPA.
Young workforce
The average age of the workforce is 29, among the youngest in the Americas. About 21,300 secondary students are in technical and vocational education, a strong talent pipeline.
Well connected
Flights via Amsterdam, Panama and the Caribbean. The 25 Tbps Deep Blue One submarine cable (2024) and a robust port, named Container Port of the Year 2022 by the Caribbean Shipping Association, link Suriname to the world.
Rich in resources
93% forest cover, 1.5 million hectares suitable for agriculture, abundant freshwater, and a location outside the Atlantic hurricane belt.
Outsource to Suriname
For business process outsourcing (BPO), Suriname is the only Dutch-speaking country outside Europe. 27 BPO operators, 6,774 service delivery seats and 96% of providers working in Dutch and English.
BPO service delivery seats (2025)
of BPO providers offer Dutch and English
BPO staff turnover, below the 30 to 45% industry average
Key Sectors
Agribusiness
A land-rich tropical production base
Only about 60,000 of 1.5 million suitable hectares are cultivated. Suriname produces 225,923 tonnes of rice a year, exports to 60+ markets, and grew agribusiness exports by 141% over five years. Opportunities include horticulture, agri-processing, cold chain and aquaculture.
Business Services
Your nearshore Dutch and English hub
27 operators and 6,774 service delivery seats serve brands across Europe and North America. 96% of providers work in both Dutch and English, with real-time overlap with European and American working hours.
Energy and mining
A new offshore energy hub
The US$10.5 billion GranMorgu project in Block 58 targets first oil in 2028. Nine offshore discoveries since 2020 and an established gold sector create demand for logistics, engineering, technical and environmental services.
Tourism
Nature, culture and heritage
93% forest cover, 3 UNESCO World Heritage sites and more than 700 bird species. International visitor exports are forecast to grow 9% a year to 2035, and there is no international-standard luxury eco-lodge in the interior yet.