PARAMARIBO, Suriname, CMC – The Caribbean managing director of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Anton Edmunds, has held talks with the Finance and Planning Minister, Stanley Raghoebarsing, on the bank’s 2025 program for the Dutch-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country.
The IDB said in a statement that Edmunds acknowledged the work Suriname has done in improving macroeconomic conditions and business prospects.
He noted how the ambitious reform agenda initiated by the government continues to strengthen transparency and fiscal consolidation, which will sustainably improve the lives of the Surinamese people.
“Suriname continues to shine as a leader in initiatives, scale, and comprehensive approach to development. During my recent meeting with the board, I was truly impressed by the creative and committed work being done here. It is remarkable,” he added.
Edmunds visited several projects involving the IDB, stressing the importance of regularly assessing regional developments and maintaining a physical presence in the countries involved.
“This is not to say that other countries do not need support, but I see here that our work can significantly affect people’s futures. Ultimately, that is the main motivation behind our efforts: ensuring we leave a lasting impact.”
During his visit, Edmunds also provided updates on the “One Caribbean” initiative, the bank’s first Caribbean-led regional initiative that prioritizes four critical elements: food security, citizen security, private sector development, and infrastructure.
He said Suriname had a key opportunity to leverage this initiative in cybersecurity, as One Caribbean is expected to support participating countries by creating an emergency fund for government use.
“Cybersecurity is an area where we have identified resources to assist governments. Importantly, we will also invest in mapping the current cybersecurity landscape in each country,” Edmunds said.
The aim of the One Caribbean initiative is to pilot projects within these four elements, and Edmunds said that he aims to support rather than dictate and to engage with countries on their plans and ideas.
“We are exploring how we can leverage expertise from relevant countries to improve food production and distribution across the region,” he added.
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