Suriname and Venezuela will expand their cooperation in the areas of energy, fisheries, aviation, tourism, agriculture and education. The agreements were laid down on Friday, September 11, during the official visit of Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez to Suriname.
Rodríguez said after the signing that the agreements should further strengthen the economic and commercial ties between the two countries.
Within the energy sector, Venezuela is making its knowledge and experience in oil and gas exploration and production available to Suriname. Efforts will also focus on training and knowledge transfer through, among others, the Venezuelan research institute Intevep and the Venezuelan University of Hydrocarbons.
Fisheries and air links
The Venezuelan president also expressed her satisfaction with the fisheries agreement concluded. According to her, it offers benefits for both countries and their fishers.
Rodríguez stated that the agreements could offer Suriname more opportunities to supply, among other things, grouper and red snapper for export to the United States and other markets.
In addition, Suriname and Venezuela want to improve their commercial air links. Venezuela wants to give airlines more room to become active on routes between the two countries. The improved connections should stimulate tourism, trade and travel between the countries. Expanding maritime transport is also part of the plans.
Cooperation in agriculture
In the area of agriculture, the agreements focus on food production and food security. Both countries also want to better align their sanitary and phytosanitary regulations.
Cooperation is also envisaged in the areas of animal genetics, agricultural technology and regenerative agriculture. This form of agriculture focuses, among other things, on restoring soil and using natural resources more sustainably.
Study opportunities for Surinamese students
Education and vocational training also form an important part of the cooperation. Venezuela wants to offer Surinamese students opportunities to study medicine at the Latin American University of Medicine.
In addition, agreements have been made on training in agriculture, technology and technical professions. Cultural cooperation, including music and language education, is also to be expanded.
Rodríguez further stressed the importance of better connections between countries in the region. According to her, Latin America and the Caribbean are currently more strongly connected to countries outside the region than to one another.
“We are the most disconnected region in the world. We are more connected to the north than to our own region,” the Venezuelan president said.
According to Rodríguez, the new agreements should help bring Suriname and Venezuela closer together. “The path is cooperation, the path is friendship,” she stated.
The next meeting of the Suriname-Venezuela Joint Commission is scheduled for the first quarter of 2027 and will take place in Suriname. Rodríguez also repeated her invitation to President Jennifer Simons to visit Venezuela.
