Guyana’s flourishing coconut industry impresses Suriname

Suriname’s Business Development Center’s (SBC), Manager of Business Support Services, Ratan Kalka disclosed that Guyana’s impressive coconut industry could see the beginning of another worthwhile partnership with the Government of Suriname.

Kalka made this disclosure as he spoke on Thursday, during the opening of Guyana’s inaugural Agri-Investment Forum and Expo at the National Cultural Centre. The Surinamese official disclosed that Guyana’s flourishing coconut industry is quite impressive, and is something his country hopes to attain someday. This, he said is a great accomplishment by the agriculture ministry to propel agricultural production beyond its current rate.

“We (Suriname) are very impressed by the developments made by Guyana, and of course, the other agriculture developments in livestock etc …we hope that we will find the strength and courage and collaboration with our Guyanese brothers and sisters to work together for entrance in other Caribbean countries,” he noted

The Surinamese Business Development Center’s (SBC), Manager of Business Support Services said that the forum has been able to highlight many areas essential to ensuring food security in the Caribbean such as education, collaboration and regional integration. “For Suriname, we will develop everything that is possible to make it happen, and so we want to work together with all of the CARICOM nations to achieve this,” Kalka said.

Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, earlier this week had announced that Guyana earned some $2.5B from the exportation of coconuts, and its byproducts for 2021. This, the President said has brought government one step closer to achieving its vision of restoring Guyana’s status as a major coconut producer, competent to supply the Caribbean and South American markets.

Mustapha pointed out that his ministry is currently working on developing several coconut nurseries as well as distribution of coconut seedlings. It was noted that SBC is the executive office of the Suriname Business Forum (SBF), which aims to jointly formulate reform proposals and implement and monitor national strategy for the development of the private sector in Suriname.

The three-day Agri-Investment Forum and Expo was hosted under the theme, Investing in Vision: “25 by 2025.”