Suriname’s state-owned oil and gas company Staatsolie has entered into a landmark three-year public-private partnership with the country’s Tax and Customs Administration to upskill government officials working in the rapidly expanding offshore energy sector, a move designed to strengthen regulatory capacity and secure public revenue from one of the nation’s most critical growing industries. The partnership agreement for the Tax Administration Capacity Enhancement Program 2025–2028 was officially signed on Friday, with Staatsolie CEO Annand Jagesar and Tax Director Marita Lautan-Wijnerman marking the occasion to formalize the collaboration.
As Suriname’s offshore oil and gas industry continues to expand at an unprecedented pace, public regulators face growing pressure to keep up with the sector’s evolving technical complexity and rapid market changes. Stakeholders on both sides of the agreement note that accurate tax assessment, revenue collection and regulatory oversight require specialized, up-to-date expertise that many existing government staff currently lack. Without targeted training, the Surinamese government risks failing to capture the full economic benefits of the country’s natural energy reserves, undermining national development efforts.
Under the terms of the new program, targeted training will be delivered to tax and customs officers directly engaged with oil and gas sector operations over the three-year timeline. The initiative will prioritize building both foundational technical knowledge and hands-on practical skills tailored to the unique needs of energy sector regulation. Training modules will be rolled out in phases, with most initial sessions hosted within Suriname, and supplementary international knowledge exchanges arranged when advanced global expertise is required.
This capacity building effort forms part of the lead-up activities for Staatsolie’s 45th anniversary celebration scheduled for December 2025, and aligns perfectly with the company’s core anniversary motto: “empowering communities and institutions.” By investing in stronger government regulatory capacity, Staatsolie aims to ensure that oil and gas revenues are managed transparently and responsibly, channeling returns into inclusive national development that benefits all Surinamese citizens.