Suriname has officially unveiled its National Financial Inclusion and Education Strategy (NFIES) for 2024–2027 during the National Symposium on Financial Inclusion and Education. The event, organized by the Central Bank of Suriname (CBvS) in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance and Planning, signifies a pivotal step in ensuring accessible financial services and enhancing financial literacy across the nation.
CBvS Governor Maurice Roemer emphasized that financial inclusion is ‘not an option but a national necessity.’ He highlighted that excluding large segments of the population restricts the country’s economic potential. The strategy focuses on five key pillars: access, usage, quality, protection, and education. Roemer also stressed the importance of balanced anti-money laundering regulations to prevent unintended exclusion of vulnerable groups.
Acting President Gregory Rusland underscored the inseparable link between financial stability and inclusion during his opening remarks. ‘An economy is truly stable only when all citizens can fully participate in the financial system,’ he stated. The symposium aimed to accelerate practical solutions and deepen collaboration among stakeholders.
In her closing address, Minister of Finance and Planning Adelien Wijnerman called for sustained cooperation among the government, financial institutions, NGOs, and international partners. ‘Financial inclusion and education are cornerstones of national development. Let today not mark the end of a meeting but the beginning of a movement,’ she urged.
The NFIES was refined in partnership with the Alliance for Financial Inclusion. During the two-day session, progress and priorities of the strategy were evaluated, leading to the formulation of new action points. These include strengthening the regulatory framework for financial inclusion, promoting digital payment solutions, expanding financial education programs, and fostering deeper collaboration between the public and private sectors.
The event concluded with the signing of a joint declaration, reaffirming Suriname’s commitment to sustainable financial inclusion and education as integral components of its development trajectory.