On a Friday gathering held in Amsterdam Zuidoost, Suriname’s ambassador to the Netherlands Ricardo Panka announced a new strategic push to integrate Surinamese diaspora entrepreneurs and young professionals based in the Netherlands into Suriname’s ongoing economic development and cross-border investment initiatives.
The event marked the official launch of ACCESS, a new entrepreneur support program organized by The Extra Mile, a regional business enablement organization. Lead by managing director Ryan Weibolt and co-initiator Mattias Scheek, ACCESS is designed to deliver targeted information, build professional connections, and stimulate growth among Surinamese-background entrepreneurs operating in the Netherlands. The partnership between The Extra Mile and the Surinamese embassy was facilitated by mediator Sandra Esseboom, and Panka was joined at the launch by other senior embassy officials, including councilor Shefron Kartowikromo, secretary Valeenee Wasimin, and commercial attaché Amrish Mankoe.
In his keynote address at the launch, Panka emphasized the untapped economic potential of the large Surinamese diaspora community in the Netherlands. Official embassy data shows more than 360,000 people of Surinamese descent currently reside in the Netherlands — a number that equals nearly half of Suriname’s total domestic population. “This makes the Surinamese community in the Netherlands one of our most important strategic priorities,” Panka stated.
Moving beyond traditional diplomatic functions, Panka outlined a new vision for the embassy as an open, accessible hub that supports not only standard diplomatic work but also prioritizes entrepreneurship development, young professional engagement, knowledge sharing, and bilateral economic progress. “We are reorienting our work to meet the evolving needs of our community and our nation,” he added.
The launch event also featured practical industry insights from guest speakers. Co-initiator Scheek, a veteran technology entrepreneur who co-founded Dutch audio technology firm Mayht Technologies, shared his professional journey with attendees. Mayht, which developed groundbreaking compact speaker technology, was acquired by U.S. audio giant Sonos for approximately $100 million in 2022, making it one of the most notable Dutch tech exits in recent years. Additionally, Niels Dolk, an M&A lawyer at international law firm Osborne Clarke, led a session covering key legal considerations that entrepreneurs face when navigating investment rounds, business acquisitions, and other major corporate transactions.
Following the event, Panka extended an invitation to Scheek for a follow-up discussion at the Suriname embassy to explore potential areas of collaboration and connection with Suriname’s domestic business ecosystem. According to the embassy’s communications department, the institution plans to continue expanding its outreach and connections with Surinamese entrepreneurs in the Netherlands long-term. The initiative focuses not only on attracting direct foreign investment to Suriname but also on leveraging the existing knowledge, professional experience, and extensive business networks built by members of the Surinamese diaspora to drive inclusive, sustainable economic growth at home.