Suriname improves banana production with EU funding
Since 2004, banana production in Suriname has increased dramatically with funding assistance from the European Union (EU). Restructuring of the banana industry has led to the export of 80 to 90 containers weekly, thus doubling the production of the now defunct state-owned company Surland. Banana operations are currently being conducted by the Foundation for Preservation of the Banana Sector (SBBS). According to European Commission’s representative for Suriname, Helena Laakso, and Minister of Development Cooperation, Rick van Ravenswaay, the EC so far has provided about 20 million euros for the restructuring of the banana industry.
On Thursday the EC, the Ministry of Development Cooperation and a contractor signed an agreement to improve the drainage at the two banana plantations in Suriname. Within eight months Surinamese contractor BROCAD/Van Dijk who won the contract worth 331,000 euros, should supply and install 11 pumps at the two plantations.
Suriname is producing bananas in a competitive way and the country can compete with the rest of the world’s banana producers. Minister Van Ravenswaay disclosed that the privatisation of the banana industry is still on the agenda of the government. All the activities and projects to restructure the sector are aimed at improving the viability of the sector in order to offer the operations in an international bidding round.
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