Strategic Agricultural Export Plan Suriname

Towards 35 Billion EURO GDP

How can Suriname realize a GDP of 35 billion euro?

In 2019 Suriname had a GDP of only 3.5 billion euro.

For comparison: Israel had a GDP of 370 billion euro in 2019.

What is GDP?

Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is the monetary value of all goods and services made within a country during a specific period. GDP provides an economic snapshot of a country, used to measure how well a country is doing and how rich the population is or can become.

Facts of Suriname

There are many untouched and not realized export opportunities by Surinamese entrepreneurs, this given the following facts:

Population of almost 600.000 people having a unique mix of culture
Covered for 93% with Amazon Forest, with spectacular nature
Dutch and English speaking
7 times the size of Israel, 6 times the size of Belgium
Almost the same size of Florida and the island of Java
The department Coronie is 5 times the size of Singapore
Only two 4 star hotels
Only 1 university
Only 1 small airport and seaport
A large sea territory (country plus sea are the size of Germany)
Only 2000 companies with over 5 employees
No company making over 100 million euro per year
Only 1 large city: Paramaribo, a beautiful historical, colorful and colonial capital
No trains or uninterrupted highways to cities in other countries
Only 140.000 tourists yearly (meaning people that have no relatives and visit the country not for business)
Very, very fertile for fruits and vegetables
Having a unique blended food culture and culinary tradition
Having a unique arsenal of discoverd and undiscovered medicinal plants
Many, many natural resources, like a huge fresh water reservoir, gold and oil.
A potential gateway to Northern Brazil and hub for South America
Free trade agreements with all the CariCom countries

Some of these facts are considered a problem, like not having many inhabitants, but in fact they are the basis for creating the enormous amount of business opportunities.

For a fact it is very interesting to note that the department of Coronie is 5 times the size of Singapore, where Singapore has a GDP of 360 billion euro and a population of 5 million people.

And know that in 1965 the Dutch and Americans launched 4 small rockets from Coronie. This means that anything can be done in Suriname.

Below we are summing up major export opportunities including their expected revenue, related to what other countries are doing.

Whether you are a Surinamese farmer or foreign entrepreneur, investor or student, this information will help you either get started or improve your agribusiness in Suriname.

The vision and strategy of Discover Suriname on Export

Discover Suriname is envisions that in the near and far future, sustainable produced agricultural products and services from Suriname are needed and wanted in the near and far export destinations.

One of the reason is that there be will be a huge worldwide food shortage within 30 years, according to scientists.

In order to be able to realize the potential export volume, three challenges need to be dealt with.

Ambitious export goals require a realistic, focused and detailed plan
Surinamese Entrepreneurs needs to be visible for their potential foreign clients and investors
Surinamese Entrepreneurs need to be able produce in a modern sustainable tech driven way and comply with regulations in order to be able to export

Discover Suriname is confident that it can play a role in dealing with these challenges together with Suriname entrepreneurs.

The rest of this page explores these three challenges and comes up with an action plan that, once carried, will contribute to more export and thus a higher GDP of Suriname.

The Concept: Suriname as Agribusiness Technology Region

Discover Suriname is in favor of turning Suriname into an Agribusiness Technology Region (or AgriTech Region), where companies, education and government work closely together.

In the first phase, in 2020 and 2021, Discover Suriname wants to focus on what entrepreneurs already can do, without large investments of investors or huge involvement of the government is needed.

In a second and third phase, new infrastructures and facilities could be setup, where involvement of investors and government is needed.

Example of Export Opportunities to CariCom

Bardados, with a population of 300.000 people, is only 1064 kilometers away from Suriname.

As claimed by Prime minister Mottley of Barbados, it currently imports for a total of 4 billion euro of goods and services from outside CariCom.

The import of fruits, vegetables, cheese, milk, fish and meat by Barbados in 2019 totaled over 50 million euro. External Link to import data on Barbados. (trendeconomy.com)

The Suriname Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has reported to Discover Suriname that Suriname exported for less than 1 million EURO to the whole of CariCom in 2019.

The 15 member states and 5 associate members of CariCom should be good for over 4 billion euro of total export from Suriname, with at least 1 billion euro of fruits and vegetables export.

Reasons for this failing export are mainly due to 3 reasons:

There is no effective production and export plan
Surinamese producers/farmers are invisible for foreign prospects/buyers/importers
A knowledge gap at Surinamese companies on IT and modern farming technologies

The good thing is that all these three problems can and will be solved and this without significant financial investments.

Example of Opportunities in Global Trade

There are 193 countries worldwide.

The following website shows the embassies that Suriname has: https://www.embassypages.com/suriname.

Even though not all the data on that website is updated real time, it gives a good indication of what is missing as part of an international trade structure: a lot of embassies, chambers of commerce and known points of contact.

Suriname has, in over 170 countries, no visible or active presence. Most investors and entrepreneurs worldwide have never heard of Suriname and its enormous opportunities at all. Discover Suriname as program and website has the sole focus on resolving that: making sure that every investor, entrepreneur and student worldwide knows of Suriname and its opportunities.

For instance: in the Philippines there are over 100 million people. It is estimated that less than 100.000 people in this country know where to find Suriname on a map,that Paramaribo is the capital and that Dutch is the official language. Suriname has no embassy or chamber of commerce in the Philippines, while the Philippines might be a great opportunity for re-export for Suriname and for immigrants.

The Export Plan

This list shows realistic direct export and re-export goals for 2020/2021:

Fresh Water Export	€1 B
Juices	€1 B
Fish and Seafood	€1 B
Meat	€0,5 B
Rice	€0,5 B
Cacao	€0,5 B
Coffee	€0,4 B
Banana	€0,2 B
Coconut	€0,2 B
Pineapple	€0,1 B
Cassave	€0,1 B
Sweet Cherries	€0,1 B
Other Fruits & Vegetables	€1 B
--------------------------------------	-----
Total estimated export:	€6,6 B

Fresh Water Export

Suriname is currently not exporting fresh water. It is estimated that this could bring a yearly revenue of 1 billion euro.

Key thing here is that knowledge has to be gained on how to comply with internal standards.

Banana, Coconut and Pineapple

Because of ease, knowledge and history in growing Banana, Pineapple and Coconut, export is estimated for these three products together at over 0,5 billion euro.

The challenge here is knowledge on disease control and efficienct of growing the products and innovating the product: how can we grow a resistant and future banana?

Expertise centers for these three products should be setup, also having a clear website where entrepreneurs can find a lot of information on how to grow these products succsfully in Suriname.

Cassave Potatos and Chips

- to be done -

Re Export

- to be done -

Other Fruits and Vegetables

- to be done -

Sweet Cherries

Chile exports for more than 1 billion euro cherries to China. Suriname does not have any significant export to China.

Main Export Destinations

The main export destinations for fruits and vegetables from Suriname could be:

Barbados
Other CariCom countries
Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao
Belgium / EU
The Netherlands
United States
China

Seven Economic Pillars and Projects

Next to starting to produce, export and re-export as Surinamese entrepreneurs, the country of Suriname should start seven long term projects that provide infrastructure and facilities to all entrepreneurs.

These projects are:

FTZ: 5 Free Trade Zones (like a copy of Singapore and Miami)
LOGISTICS: Highways and Railways with other capitals and distribution centers
TECH EDUCATION: 30 Foreign Universities (student immigration)
TECH FARMING: Agritech Valleys and Expertise Centers for product categories
INFRASTRUCTURE: Business Districts (like Clarke city or Makati City in the Phillipines)
TRADE: Build a global trade structure: setting up Surinamese importers in 180 countries and starting up bilateral chambres of commerce.
LARGE COMPANIES: Get 10 to 30 big internationals companies to start an innovation plant or subsidiary in Suriname.

These projects are not pre-requisite for 35 GDP, but enable to grow beyond 35 GDP towards an economy alike Florida or Singapore

The Discover Suriname Action Plan

In the above part of this page the various export opportunities are listed.

In order to set things in motion and starting to realize the export opportunities, key activities need to be started up.

Discover Suriname is looking forward to execute these activities in collaboration with other parties or be supportive in them.

The key activities that we mention here are:

To create a list of 100 great Agribusiness companies in Suriname. The criteria for this we will be developed together with knowledgeable people in Suriname on this matter.
To motivate and support at least these 100 companies, or better said the entrepreneurs, in upgrading their business and organization via information, templates and training resources (presentations, articles) on this website.
To make these companies and their entrepreneurs more visible to the outside world via this website.
To promote the country of Suriname and its investment and trade opportunities in 193 countries via this website.
To stimulate that the associations and consultants in Suriname support all companies in Suriname that seek support, to upgrade their business and organization.
To search in 193 countries for importers, investors and partners and place the information on this website.
To stimulate that the Surinamese entrepreneurs and foreign importers and investors contact each other.
To start up an AgriTech Valley in Coronie and other parts of Suriname.
To help starting up bilateral chambers of commerce with Suriname in other countries.
To help setting up Surinamese importers and Surinamese companies in other countries.
To help starting up expertise centers in Suriname for various product categories.
To help organize fact finding trade missions to and from Suriname.

Discover Suriname knows that proactively sharing knowledge and information will reduce the knowledge gap that some Surinamese entrepreneurs have.

Discover Suriname is not responsible or accountable for the results of every individual entrepreneur.

We only support entrepreneurs that are interested in becoming better in doing business and running their organization.

Of course there is no guarantee that every entrepreneur will produce more and make more money with his or her company.

The Entrepreneurs Action Plan

Do you need the government or money to start producing and export? No, not right away!

There are many things every entrepreneur can do, before he or she needs the government for, let's say, permits and funding to for, let' s say, equipment.

Seven very important activities to startup by Surinamese farmers and or foreign investors, entrepreneurs and students are:

Educate yourself in new technologies, like robotics, mechatronics, insect farming and hydro culture
Educate yourself in export regulations
Write a business plan
Build a professional english website
Find your first 10 prospects or clients
Update your business plan and website based on feedback you get
Iterate these activities
Collaborate with other entrepreneurs

1. How to educate yourself in new technologies

On the internet you can search for resources in new agribusiness techonologies. Websites like Google, YouTube, Slideshare and Vimeo have many videos and presentations on new technologies.

Also many universities worldwide provide information on new technologies.

2. How to find prospects or clients

A company needs clients. So entrepreneurs should always be on the lookout for new clients.

But that involves also what you are offering as products or services to prospects.

One way of finding new prospects and clients is looking on the internet who is buying products (like an importer or buyer).

And next you call them up or contact them in another way and discuss your offerings with them.

3. How to collaborate with other entrepreneurs

Collaboration with other entrepreneurs is not that hard to start up.

First go to meetings of various business clubs and associations, in person or online (webinars).

Make sure to speak to a lot of potential partners every week.

Next you think of the objectives you want realize with a collaboration.

Develop a pith story on collaboration to use when you engage a potential partner.

Develop a plan and timeline for collaboration.

These are the first step that help you on your way in collaborating with other entrepreneurs.

Modern Agribusiness means IT, Data and Robotics

It may sound strange, but in todays world an agribusiness company is becoming more and more an IT company and robotics company that provides data to the farmer to be able to farm very efficiently and has a lot of equipment that can grow and harvest very efficiently.

Doing business in modern times with IT and robotics (or mechatronics) is not very complicated, but requires some skills. So it not strange to look for help and start to collaborate. It is in fact very smart to do.

Share Information and Knowledge. Collaborate and Educate

Surinamese entrepreneurs have many opportunities to realize. It is really like picking low hanging fruit.

Sharing information and knowledge is key when you are not yet a rich entrepreneur.

The more you share information and knowledge, the more you will you see you get in return.

Another key thing is collaborate and educate. Two can do so much more than one. Every entrepreneur that tries to become a market leader on his own will mostly fail.

On Discover Suriname we advise to startup a company in Suriname with at least five people: A financial and product director, a sales and marketeer and 3 workers. And we advice to build a partnership with at least two other companies where you share information, knowledge and leads with.

When looking at the collaboration agreement between Suriname and Barbados, Surinamese entrepreneurs could consider to get into contact with entrepreneurs from Barbados and produce together.

Read this Export page on that

Get Support for Business Development

If you are a Surinamese Farmer and want to get help in starting up or improving your company, you can contact any of the following organizations and people:

Organizations

KKF - www.surinamechamber.com
SVB
SBF
Asfa
VEAPS

Consultants

Smart Consultancy, Ruud Souverein
Martin Panday
Swami Girdhari
Monique Lew
Pierre van Zichem

Also many universities and governments world wide have people and resources that are very willing to share knowledge for free (up to a certain point) and help innovate.