Suriname Guyana Chamber of Commerce concludes successful Trade Mission, Energy Summit

The Suriname Guyana Chamber of Commerce (SGCC) completed its recent trade mission and participation in the Suriname Energy, Oil, and Gas Summit (SEOGS) 2024.

The highlights of the week included:

Day 1: Presidential Meeting

The SGCC board of directors met with President Chandrikapersad Santokhi to discuss the free movement of goods and services between the region and the progress on the Corentyne Bridge construction. These topics are critical to enhancing bilateral trade relations and fostering economic growth.

Day 2: SEOGS Opening Day

The SGCC Pavilion at SEOGS was visited by key dignitaries, including Minister Albert Ramdin; Suriname’s Foreign Affairs Minister, and Ambassador Liselle Blankendal; Suriname’s Ambassador to Guyana. The SGCC showcased eight companies; Optiek Ninon, Kroon Oil, RCFA Accountants and Tax Advisors, SOGLASS, Ardant Solutions, International SOS, Quality Deliverer, and M. Sookhai & Co.

Day 3: SGCC Pavilion

The SGCC pavilion emerged as a focal point for business interaction, attracting considerable interest and generating promising investment opportunities. This highlighted the immense potential for crossborder collaboration between Surinamese and Guyanese businesses. The event yielded hundreds of qualified leads for both our members and the Chamber, solidifying its success.

Day 4: Delegation Activities

The fourth day witnessed the arrival of the Guyanese delegation, warmly received by Dr. Peter Ramsaroop, CEO of the Guyana Office for Investment (GO-Invest). Significant strides marked the day in fostering collaboration, with several Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) signed. A key MOU was established between GO-Invest and the Suriname Investment & Trade Agency (SITA), solidifying investment ties.

Another MOU between the Suriname Guyana Chamber of Commerce (SGCC) and the Curaçao Investment and Export Promotion Agency Foundation (CINEX) broadens regional cooperation. A highlight of the day was the “Guyana in Focus” seminar, featuring presentations by SGCC leadership. SGCC CEO Rahul Lildhar and Chair Dr. Vishnu Doerga discussed the Chamber’s role in supporting businesses across Suriname and Guyana and announced the upcoming International Business Conference (IBC) scheduled for October 15th – 17th, which will be hosted in Guyana and supported by the Guyana Office for Investment.

Adding valuable insights, Vice Chair Mr. Derrick Klaverweide shared his experience in successfully expanding his company, Optiek Ninon, into Guyana. Ambassadors Liselle Blankendal and Ambassador Depoo provided informative addresses on the business development services offered by their respective embassies. Dr. Peter Ramsaroop addressed the attendees, outlining the investment opportunities within Guyana. He emphasized the “Brand Guyana” initiative, which focuses on attracting foreign direct investment in key sectors like agriculture, manufacturing, and renewable energy.

Dr. Ramsaroop also highlighted the potential for collaboration in agro-processing and manufacturing to capture wider regional markets, suggesting specific opportunities for joint ventures and knowledge sharing between Surinamese and Guyanese companies. Capping off a productive day, the SGCC commenced its B2B meetings, facilitating over 50 scheduled meetings for businesses to connect in sectors such as real estate, tourism, oil and gas, logistics, and manufacturing. These meetings resulted in the signing of FDAs between companies, and potential joint ventures in the pipeline, and the SGCC remains committed to following up and making these connections fruitful.

Day 5: Exhibition and Meetings

The delegation continued their engagement with a final round of B2B meetings, further solidifying connections and exploring collaboration opportunities. Additionally, the SGCC met with the Vereniging Surinaams Bedrijfsleven (VSB) to discuss potential areas of collaboration and ways to strengthen private sector development in the region. An MOU was tabled for future cooperation.

Day 6: Networking Event

The mission wrapped up with a networking event hosted by the SGCC, supported by Ambassador Liselle Blankendal and Ambassador Depoo. The event also featured a presentation by Raoul Chong, Director of Trade at the Suriname Investment & Trade Agency (SITA), on trade relations between Suriname and Guyana.

This networking event provided an excellent platform for delegates to foster connections and explore further collaborations. Building on the success of this mission, the SGCC is already planning the next trade mission, which will see businesses from Suriname visiting Guyana in 15th – 17th October.

This continued effort underscores the chamber’s commitment to strengthening the economic relationship between our nations. The SGCC thanks all participants and contributors for making this mission a success, and fostering a brighter future for businesses in Suriname and Guyana.

[Suriname Guyana Chamber of Commerce Press Release]