The World Bank has ranked Suriname as the 17th richest country in the world in terms of natural resources. Being already one of the world's top suppliers of bauxite, the raw material for the production of alumunium, Suriname also possesses other natural resources, such as timber, kaolin, oil, gold, diamonds, platinum, uranium, manganese, copper, nickel and iron ore, most of which are still unexplored.

The Surinamese Government and the business community are ardently looking for establishing joint ventures as well as much needed technology transfer.

The Chamber of Commerce & Industry is strongly promoting the development of small and medium sized companies as it believes that in Suriname this is the best basis for development of the entire economy of the country.

With its wealth in natural resources, foreign investors will have no trouble in finding possibilities and investment opportunities in Suriname.

Suriname also ranked 86th out of 174 countries in the human development index 2005 of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), which puts it in the “medium human development” band.

Quick facts in figures:

GDP/PPP (2006 est.) $3.098 billion; GDP $7.100 per capita (2006 est.); GDP Real growth rate: 6.0 percent (2006 est.); Unemployment: 9.5 percent (2004); Inflation rate 9.5 percent (2005 est.).

Monetary Unit:

The Surinamese dollar is tied to a US dollar-dominated currency basket. The Suriname dollar (SRD) is equal to 100 cents. Many hotels and large department stores accept foreign currency and credit cards. Foreign currency can safely be exchanged in commercial banks and cambio’s. Money transactions on the street are not advised. With mayor international bank passes, one can acquire Suriname dollars at the automatic cash machines. The currency rate per US dollar is 2,7317 SRD.