PARAMARIBO, Suriname, CMC – The Suriname government says it has decided to implement a previously available US$25 million loan from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to strengthen the safety, regulations, and reliability of the aviation sector, with a view to international standards and economic growth.
The state-owned Communications Service Suriname (CDS) said newly elected President Jennifer Simons gave the assurance during a meeting on Thursday with an IDB delegation.
The IDB loan, which has been available since the end of 2024, has remained unused. The new government considers aviation modernization to be of paramount importance, partly due to international safety requirements and future economic development.
The government advisor for aviation and maritime affairs, Faizel Baarn, said the programme is being approached comprehensively, and preparations for formalisation are well advanced.
“We’re on a fast track right now. The final steps are now being taken to activate the programme formally, Baarn said, noting that in this phase, issues like runways will not yet be addressed.
He said the focus will primarily be on structural improvements that contribute to a safe, reliable, and internationally recognized aviation system.
“It will be implemented across the board, with us working in parallel on multiple aspects of the sector. It’s cross-cutting. So we’ll be working on various facets of the sector simultaneously,” Baarn said.
The CDS stated that the current priority is to update legislation, strengthen the Casas civil aviation authority, purchase or repair navigation equipment, and involve international experts, including through collaboration with the European Union and the International Civil Aviation Organization.
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