Australia strengthens cooperation with Suriname
by Ivan Cairo
Caribbean Net News Suriname Correspondent
Monday, April 25, 2005
PARAMARIBO, Suriname: Australia says it is
committed to contribute to the social and economic development of Suriname. In
the near future Australia will assist in new community-based development
projects in the Caribbean nation.
With a US$5,000 grant from Sydney, a
grassroots women’s organization in Luango in the Boven-Suriname area, put up a
rice mill and people were trained how to operate the machine.
In a courtesy call with Foreign Affairs Minister Marie Levens, Australian
ambassador John Mill stressed that his country is willing to further
strengthen the bilateral relations with Suriname. On his brief visit to
Suriname last week, he held talks with the relevant authorities on this matter
and presented his credentials to President Ronald Venetiaan on Wednesday.
Mitchell, who resides in Port of Spain, Trinidad, also vowed to strengthen
commercial cooperation between the Suriname and Australia. Both countries
maintain good and friendly bilateral relations and for many years Australia is
one of Suriname’s most important trade partners.
BHP-Billiton, an Australian bauxite company,
is one of the largest companies in Suriname, contributing substantially to the
export and tax income of the country. Currently BHP-Billiton is making an
investment of US$64 million with the development of two new mines. Production
will start in 2006, with a projected income target of US$30 million to US$40
million. Government’s take will be some US$10 million.
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