Suriname participated in CTU ICT Week 2026 in Cayenne, French Guiana. The meeting took place from 20 to 24 September and brought together representatives of governments, regulators, companies and knowledge institutions to discuss the digital development of the Caribbean region.
The Surinamese delegation was led by Minister Raymond Landveld of Transport, Communication and Tourism. Acting Director of Communication Louis Alfaisie and representatives of state-owned company Telesur also took part.
For Suriname, digital connectivity in the interior was an important topic of discussion. Due to the vast distances and sparsely populated areas, it is a challenge to make reliable connections and digital services available outside the coastal plain as well. According to the ministry, fixed and mobile networks and satellite connections can complement one another in this regard.
The meeting also addressed digital government services, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and data management. The Digital Futures Forum also discussed the use of satellites and geolocation for mapping and managing areas.
Minister Landveld emphasised that digital development must deliver tangible benefits. “Technology is not an end in itself. The point is that digitalisation contributes to better services, new economic opportunities and more opportunities for people, regardless of where they live.”
In the technical and policy discussions, Alfaisie contributed Surinamese experiences with digital inclusion and connecting communities outside the coastal plain. CTU ICT Week also served as a regional preparation moment for the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference, which will be held in November in Doha, Qatar.
