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Partnerships are key to supporting inclusive growth and climate challenges
Interview with Dr Adelien H Wijnerman, Minister of Finance and Planning of Suriname
Adelien Wijnerman, Suriname’s Minister of Finance and Planning, discusses the country’s emerging opportunities in oil and gas, infrastructure, education, health and energy, alongside efforts to diversify into agriculture, tourism and other productive sectors. She also highlights the importance of development finance, technical assistance and partnerships with institutions such as the OPEC Fund in supporting inclusive growth and addressing climate-related challenges.
Suriname has major opportunities in energy, infrastructure and regional trade. Where do you see the biggest priorities for investment now?
We have a lot of opportunities because of our promising future with the oil and gas industry. We also have opportunities now in different areas, including infrastructure, education, health and energy. In addition, we are looking to diversify our economy, focusing on agriculture, tourism and other types of production.
How can development finance help countries like Suriname turn new opportunities into long-term, inclusive growth?
We need a lot of assistance – and we are aware of that. Mainly, we need assistance in developing and implementing the action plans for the areas I just mentioned. We are open to any kind of help. Financing is another important part we are looking for, so we are already engaging with many development finance institutions. But there are still additional needs in the priority areas we identified, so are seeking continued support to help develop those areas.
What role can partners like the OPEC Fund play in supporting Suriname’s development priorities?
We are content with the partnership we have with the OPEC Fund, so we are looking to continue it. We are particularly pleased that the OPEC Fund is contributing to new initiatives, including in climate-affected areas. Climate change is an important issue for us, as it is for many small island developing states. We are already experiencing impacts such as flooding – and people need a lot of support to address these challenges. So we are glad to have the OPEC Fund as a partner.