(De Ware Tijd) PARAMARIBO – The cutting off of Dutch development aid had proved to be beneficial to Suriname. In the coming five years, the country will receive a total of US$ 300 million in loans from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). The money was made available after the IDB’s executive board approved the strategic plan 2011-2015 for Suriname yesterday. With these funds, Suriname’s government will, among other things, invest in the public sector, diversification of the economy and protection of current and future human capital. “As an important multilateral partner, this is a unique opportunity for the IDB to support the country’s development agenda. Besides financing, we will also provide technical assistance for the plans to reform capital investments by the government,” says Marco Nicola, IDB representative in Suriname. The new loan is three times the old record amount that was US$ 100 million until recently. The new strategy for the country has been determined in close consultation with the government. Besides in the abovementioned policy areas, investments will also be made in agriculture, energy, education, finance, social security and transportation, among other things. The IDB will also help with gathering data so the government can more effectively allocate eh funds. Meanwhile, Suriname and the IDB are also negotiating for additional loans for water and sanitation, disaster control, tax administration, natural resources, and environmental management.
