On April 6, the Association for Small and Medium Enterprises in Suriname (AKMOS) released a statement mourning the passing of former Surinamese President Chandrikapersad Santokhi, celebrating his lasting legacy as a critical bridge between the national government and the country’s business community.
Throughout his time in office, during a period of severe economic uncertainty for the nation, Santokhi consistently prioritized the needs and interests of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the backbone of Suriname’s domestic economy. AKMOS highlighted that Santokhi distinguished himself as an approachable leader who prioritized hearing directly from small business owners, even when widespread economic pressure left countless entrepreneurs struggling to keep their operations afloat.
The most pivotal demonstration of Santokhi’s commitment to SMEs came in the aftermath of the global COVID-19 pandemic, when the survival of thousands of Surinamese businesses hung in the balance. Santokhi’s administration explicitly recognized the urgent need for targeted support and recovery measures, ensuring that the specific concerns of small business owners were not just heard, but integrated into national economic policy.
A core priority of Santokhi’s SME-focused policy was expanding access to affordable financing and targeted support for small operators. Through public institutions like the National Development Bank and government-backed programs including the SURGE Program and SAMAP, the administration made tangible progress to stimulate entrepreneurship and domestic production. For thousands of small business owners, these initiatives were not just empty policy proposals—they delivered concrete opportunities to keep their businesses operating, invest in expansion, and drive long-term growth. Beyond direct programs, the government also expanded and simplified access to financing lines and credit opportunities for small operators.
Another key legacy of Santokhi’s tenure was securing permanent, structural representation for SMEs in national decision-making. AKMOS, alongside the Surinamese Business Association and ASFA, gained formal participation in the Tripartite Consultation and the Social-Economic Council, giving SMEs a consistent, institutionalized voice in shaping national socio-economic policy.
AKMOS acknowledged that challenges for Surinamese SMEs remained throughout Santokhi’s term, including lingering bureaucratic hurdles and calls for faster policy implementation. Even so, the organization emphasized that Santokhi laid critical groundwork for public-private collaboration and economic recovery during one of the most difficult periods in Suriname’s modern economic history.
With Santokhi’s passing, Suriname has lost a visionary leader who recognized the central role of entrepreneurship in national prosperity and actively worked to include business stakeholders in developing solutions to the country’s challenges, AKMOS said.
On behalf of AKMOS leadership and all its members, the organization extended its deepest condolences to the Santokhi family and their loved ones, as well as to the entire people of Suriname for the national loss. The statement, signed by AKMOS President Harry Soekhlal, affirms that Santokhi’s contributions to Suriname’s entrepreneurship and SME community will endure for generations to come.