Editing Suriname (section)

== Economy ==
{{main|Economy of Suriname}}
[[File:Rosebel pit.png|thumb|[[Rosebel gold mine]]]]
[[File:Nickerie rijstveld.jpg|thumb|A rice field in [[Nickerie District]]]]
[[File:Paranam 3.JPG|thumb|Suralco bauxite factory in [[Paranam]]]]
Suriname's democracy gained some strength after the turbulent 1990s, and its economy became more diversified and less dependent on Dutch financial assistance.{{citation needed|date=September 2024}} [[Bauxite]] (aluminium ore) mining used to be a strong revenue source, since before the independence of the country up to 2015. Because Alcoa stopped all bauxite operations, the bauxite era in Suriname also ended.{{citation needed|date=September 2024}}

The discovery, exploration and exploitation of oil and gold nowadays contributes substantially to Suriname's economic independence. Agriculture, especially rice and bananas, remains a strong component of the economy, and [[ecotourism]] is providing new economic opportunities. More than 93% of Suriname's landmass consists of unspoiled rainforest.{{citation needed|date=September 2024}} With the establishment of the [[Central Suriname Nature Reserve]] in 1998, Suriname signaled its commitment to the conservation of this precious resource. The Central Suriname Nature Reserve became a [[World Heritage Site]] in 2000.
[[File:Gebouw van Financien, Paramaribo.jpg|thumb|Ministry of Finance]]
The economy of Suriname was dominated by the bauxite industry, which accounted for more than 15% of GDP and 70% of export earnings up to 2015. Currently gold exports make up 60-80% of all exports earnings. In 2021 the gold industry accounted for 8.5% of the GDP. The share of large-scale mining in total gold production is 58% compared to 42% of small-scale mining.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-10-04 |title=Overheidsinkomsten uit goudsector stijgen dit jaar verder |url=https://www.dbsuriname.com/2022/10/04/overheidsinkomsten-uit-goudsector-stijgen-dit-jaar-verder/ |access-date=2024-07-12 |website=Dagblad Suriname |language=nl-NL}}</ref> With an export value of US$1.83 billion in 2023, the gold sector makes an important contribution to the economy.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Starnieuws - Column: De bijdrage van goud aan de economie van Suriname |url=https://m.starnieuws.com/index.php/welcome/index/nieuwsitem/80975 |access-date=2024-07-12 |website=m.starnieuws.com}}</ref> The gold production of Suriname in 2015 is 30 metric tonnes.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gold production |url=https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/gold-production?tab=table |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231129233804/https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/gold-production?tab=table |archive-date=29 November 2023 |access-date=2024-12-18 |website=Our World in Data |url-status=live }}</ref>

The exploration and exploitation of oil adds substantially to the economy of Suriname at about 10% of the GDP.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Staatsolie - Suriname's National Energy, Oil & Gas Company - AGM Approves 2022 Financial Statements; Contribution of US$ 320 million to the State treasury |url=https://www.staatsolie.com/en/news/agm-approves-2022-financial-statements-contribution-of-us-320-million-to-the-state-treasury/ |access-date=2024-07-12 |website=www.staatsolie.com}}</ref> The national oil company, [[Staatsolie Maatschappij Suriname|STAATSOLIE]], is the motor behind Suriname's oil industry. Their core business is oil extraction and refining. In 2022 they made a revenue of US$840 million. In that year their contribution to the state treasury was US$320 million.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-06-25 |title=De West - STAATSOLIE DRAAGT ENORM BIJ AAN STAATSKAS - DE WEST |url=https://dagbladdewest.com/2023/06/25/staatsolie-draagt-enorm-bij-aan-staatskas/ |access-date=2024-07-12 |website=dagbladdewest.com |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2023 they made a revenue of US$722 million. The drop in revenue was because of the lower price for oil per barrel that year. Their contribution to the Surinamese state treasury was US$335 million.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-05-07 |title=Staatsolie draagt US$ 335 miljoen bij aan de staatskas in 2023 {{!}} Suriname Nieuws Centrale |url=https://surinamenieuwscentrale.com/staatsolie-draagt-us-335-miljoen-bij-aan-de-staatskas-2023 |access-date=2024-07-12 |website=surinamenieuwscentrale.com |language=nl}}</ref>

Other main export products include rice, bananas, and [[shrimp]]. Suriname has recently started exploiting some of its sizeable [[Petroleum|oil]]<ref>[http://www.rigzone.com/news/article.asp?a_id=28224 rigzone.com]; ''Staatsolie Launches Tender for 3 Offshore Blocks'' (3 January 2006)</ref> and gold<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070808034224/http://www.cambior.com/2/archives/annual_report/2001/development.pdf cambior.com]; ''Development of the Gross Rosebel Mine in Suriname''.</ref> reserves. About a quarter of the people work in the agricultural sector. The Surinamese economy is very dependent on commerce, its main trade partners being, Switzerland, China, the Netherlands, the United States, Canada, and [[Caribbean]] countries, mainly [[Trinidad and Tobago]] and the islands of the former [[Netherlands Antilles]].<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Americas/Suriname-FOREIGN-TRADE.html|title=Suriname – Foreign trade|year=2010|publisher=Encyclopedia of the Nations|access-date=18 August 2012}}</ref>
[[File:DSC 2610 Gebouw Centrale Bank van Suriname Waterkant Paramaribo.jpg|thumb|[[Central Bank of Suriname]] building in Paramaribo]]
After assuming power in the fall of 1996, the [[Jules Wijdenbosch|Wijdenbosch]] government ended the [[structural adjustment]] program of the previous government, claiming it was unfair to the poorer elements of society. Tax revenues fell as old taxes lapsed and the government failed to implement new tax alternatives. By the end of 1997, the allocation of new Dutch development funds was frozen as Surinamese Government relations with the Netherlands deteriorated. Economic growth slowed in 1998, with decline in the mining, construction, and [[utility]] sectors. Rampant government expenditures, poor tax collection, a bloated civil service, and reduced foreign aid in 1999 contributed to the fiscal deficit, estimated at 11% of GDP. The government sought to cover this deficit through monetary expansion, which led to a dramatic increase in inflation.  It takes longer on average to register a new business in Suriname than virtually any other country in the world (694 days or about 99 weeks).<ref>The Economist, Pocket World in Figures, 2008 Edition, London: Profile Books</ref>
* GDP (2010 est.): US$4.794 [[billion]].
* Annual growth rate real GDP (2010 est.): 3.5%.
* Per capita GDP (2010 est.): US$9,900.
* Inflation (2007): 6.4%.
* Natural resources: Bauxite, gold, oil, iron ore, other minerals; forests; hydroelectric potential; fish and shrimp.
* Agriculture: Products—rice, bananas, timber, palm kernels, coconuts, peanuts, citrus fruits, and forest products.
* Industry: Types—alumina, oil, gold, fish, shrimp, lumber.
* Trade:
** Exports (2012): US$2.563 billion: alumina, gold, crude oil, lumber, shrimp and fish, rice, bananas. Major consumers: US 26.1%, Belgium 17.6%, UAE 12.1%, Canada 10.4%, Guyana 6.5%, France 5.6%, Barbados 4.7%.<ref name=cia/>
** Imports (2012): US$1.782 billion: capital equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs, cotton, consumer goods. Major suppliers: US 25.8%, Netherlands 15.8%, China 9.8%, UAE 7.9%, Antigua and Barbuda 7.3%, Netherlands Antilles 5.4%, Japan 4.2%.<ref name=cia/>