Entrepreneurs in Suriname, many of them women, are breaking down barriers and growing their businesses thanks to the World Bank-financed initiative SURGE, which is providing crucial support to small and medium enterprises in the country.
The SURGE project has already made a significant impact, assisting more than 200 firms in improving their business operations and granting funds to 130 enterprises, with 60 percent of them being women-owned. One of the success stories emerging from this initiative is Regina Wachter Wijmans, a former small-scale farmer whose life transformed when she joined Surivit, a cooperative specializing in fruit and cassava processing.
Regina expressed her gratitude for the positive change in her life, stating, “Before I joined the cooperative, I had no steady income. Now I am profiting from my plot. I sell all my produce to the cooperative. Two of my eldest children are also farming with me now.” She also shared her aspirations, saying, “My dream is to have my own store, where I would sell different produce, including maroon specialty food – peanut rice, cassava soup, banana soup, coconut rice – traditional Saramaccan food items.”
The support provided by SURGE, including financial assistance and capacity-building services, has enabled Surivit to enhance its technology and operations, leading to increased productivity and earnings for farmers like Regina. Carlos Felipe Jaramillo, the LAC Vice-President, commended the progress made by women entrepreneurs in producing cassava-based products, highlighting the importance of updating technology and mechanization processes to further support their growth.
Regina's success story reflects the broader positive impact of the SURGE project on small businesses in Suriname. As the initiative continues to evolve and support entrepreneurs, it paves the way for a promising future for business owners like Regina and the next generation of entrepreneurs in the country.
Carlos Felipe Jaramillo's visit to Suriname and his acknowledgment of the progress made by women entrepreneurs underscore the importance of initiatives like SURGE in unlocking new opportunities and driving growth in Surinamese small businesses.