JEDDAH, 3 June 2008 — Suriname, a sparsely populated country on the northern coast of South America, is seeking financial assistance for some of its upcoming projects.
“We seek funds for two of our latest projects, which include a $20 million plant for constructing new seagoing vessels and the other for manufacturing furniture wood from ‘Elephant’ grass and bamboo,” Suriname’s Central Bank Gov. Andre Telting told Arab News on Sunday.
Suriname gained independence from the Netherlands in 1975, which has a population of 500,000, 30 percent of them Muslim. Most of its migrants came from countries including Indonesia and India.
Surinam is blessed with fertile soil, he said, adding that it can be of some assistance in tackling the problem of food security that is being currently experienced in this part of the world.
Suriname is rich in agricultural resources. Rice, banana and many other food items are exported from Suriname, he added. Suriname is also rich in gold and its gold exports have reached one million tri-ounces a year, he said.
“Suriname is a member country of the Organization of the Islamic Conference and as a consequence a member of the Islamic Development Bank,” said Telting who is here in connection with the annual meeting of the IDB Group.
