WILLEMSTAD - At the invitation of the Consul General of Suriname in Curaçao, Christa Zuiverloon, the President of the Republic of Suriname, H.E. Chandrikapersad Santokhi, participated in the presentation of the Suriname Diaspora Institute Curaçao on October 22, alongside the Prime Minister of Curaçao, H.E. Gilmar Pisas. The event took place during President Santokhi’s official visit to Curaçao, at the invitation of Prime Minister Pisas. H.E. Albert Ramdin, Suriname's Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Business, and International Cooperation (BIBIS) was also present.
Prime Minister Pisas delivered a speech in which he expressed his appreciation for the contributions of the Surinamese community to Curaçao’s society. He emphasized that Curaçao is open to further cooperation with Suriname in various fields, including trade, tourism, oil and gas, sports, and culture.
In his address, Mr. Mirto F. Murray, Chairman of the Suriname Diaspora Institute Curaçao, highlighted the importance of the diaspora for Suriname's development and their contribution to Curaçao’s economic and social growth. He stated, “The diaspora plays a crucial role in Suriname’s development and also significantly contributes to the growth of Curaçao.”
President Santokhi provided various examples of how Suriname is open to collaboration and why investing in Suriname is attractive. The strong ties between the two countries and their communities offer opportunities for enhanced cooperation. “Together, we can work towards mutual benefits for both nations,” said the President.
After the speeches, attendees had the opportunity to exchange ideas with the President.
The Diaspora Institute aims to organize a meeting early next year with the Surinamese diaspora in Curaçao. This meeting will focus on discussing concrete possibilities for sustainable knowledge transfer and collaboration, based on an assessment of the needs of the diaspora in Curaçao and the demands in Suriname. The event was deemed a great success.