Enhanced economic ties with private sector business council by Guyana, Suriname

Guyana Office for Investment (Go-Invest), Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr. Peter Ramsaroop
disclosed that the collaboration between the Private Sector Commission (PSC) and the Suriname
Trade and Investment Association (VSB) will further enhance economic relations between the
two countries.
Dr. Ramsaroop was part of a Guyanese delegation, which included members of the PSC, that had
visited Suriname last week.  It was geared at strengthening economic ties, the visit also sought to
foster mutual investment opportunities. The Go-Invest CEO revealed that back in 2020, Guyana
and Suriname formalised a cooperation mechanism establishing a framework for dialogue to
guide future collaborative efforts aimed at improving the lives of citizens.

He noted that since then, the countries have been devising investment opportunities in the oil and
gas, agriculture and a number of other sectors. Dr. Ramsaroop disclosed that during the visit, the
two bodies established the Private Sector Business Council, a 10-member body, which will see
the strengthening of relations and the creation of the envisioned Single Market and Economy. He
revealed that the first official council meeting was held on March 16, setting an agenda for the
next year. He said that the next meeting is set for May 2022 in Guyana, after which bi-monthly
meetings will be held.
Further, the Business Council will have joint leadership with VSB’s Chairman Mr. Bryan Renten
elected Chairman for the first six months, following which Mr. Paul Cheong of the PSC will take
over. Meanwhile, the members of the Surinamese side are Mr. Bryan Renten, Mr. Derrick
Klaverweide, Mr. Rishie Parbhudayal and Mr. Farsi Khodabux, while the members from the
Guyana side are Mr. Paul Cheong, Mr. Norman Mc Lean, Mr. Ryan Alexander, Ms. Latoya Jack
and Mr. Leekha Rambrich.
The CEO, along with the PSC and the Private Sector of Suriname also met with Suriname’s
Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr. Albert Ramdin and Minister Parmanand Sewdin of Ministry LVV.
As such, a statement from PSC said Guyana and the Suriname Trade and Investment Association
(VSB) have “realised the importance of the involvement of the private sector as the engine for
growth and development in both countries.”
Additionally, the statement noted that the “intentions of the Business Council was shared with
the Surinamese President, His Excellency, Chandrikapersad Santokhi during a courtesy visit by
the newly established Council on 16 th  March 2022.”