Suriname’s President Jennifer Simons has returned home from a four-day working mission to the United Kingdom, expressing clear optimism about the outcomes of her trip, which focused on building global economic ties and attracting critical investment for the South American nation’s upcoming development phase.
Simons and her small delegation, which included Minister of Finance and Planning Adelien Wijnerman, touched down at Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport on Sunday, following the mission that launched last Wednesday. The president emphasized from the outset that this trip was not an official state visit to the UK government, but a targeted working visit centered on connecting with key leaders in global finance and the energy sector.
During the mission, Simons held discussions with senior leadership from Bank of America, alongside representatives from other major international financial institutions and oil and gas companies. In remarks shared by Suriname’s Communication Service (CDS) after her arrival, she noted that the talks delivered high-value professional connections that will play a critical role in shaping Suriname’s economic future.
Suriname is currently on the cusp of major economic transformation, driven by projected new revenue streams from its emerging oil and gas sector. Simons stressed that responsible management of these upcoming natural resource revenues requires international expertise and collaboration, particularly as the country works to establish key institutional frameworks including a sovereign wealth fund.
“Suriname stands on the threshold of major development. Right now, it is more important than ever to build the right connections, gain critical knowledge, and organize international support for our growth,” Simons said. She added that any guidance and technical expertise from global partners to support the creation and management of the country’s sovereign wealth fund is indispensable, as Suriname prepares to handle new resource revenues responsibly.
The president described all meetings held during the mission as constructive, and voiced satisfaction with the clear willingness expressed by international financial bodies to back Suriname’s development trajectory. “Global stakeholders have approached our plans with a positive attitude, and I share that positive outlook,” Simons stated. “Our ultimate goal is to secure support from the world’s major financial institutions as we enter this new development period for our country.”
Simons also pointed out that international interest in Suriname extends far beyond the oil and gas sector. Talks during the mission also covered opportunities for partnership and investment in other strategic areas of national development, including the expansion of Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport and broader national infrastructure upgrades.
“We have a great deal of work ahead of our country as we navigate this economic transition phase,” Simons said. “That is why maintaining strong international connections and forging collaborative agreements is so vital to our long-term success.”