By Ivan Cairo
Caribbean Net News Suriname Correspondent
Email: ivan@caribbeannetnews.com
BEIJING, China; China’s aviation company CATIC Group has submitted plans to the Suriname government to expand its activities to Suriname and establish a regional hub for the Caribbean in this country, Surinamese government officials in China disclosed.
According to Suriname ambassador to China, Isaak Soerokarso and embassy secretary Gilbert van Dijk, the proposals of the Chinese group are sincere and the Suriname authorities are open for discussions with the Chinese.
This week a high level delegation from CATIC Group is travelling to Paramaribo to discuss the matter with Suriname’s national carrier Surinam Airways, the Suriname Civil Aviation Authority (CASAS) and other authorities.
During a recent visit to China by Suriname’s vice-president Ram Sardjoe, the vice-president was informed of CATIC’s interest in establishing economic activities in Suriname in the field of marketing its products and maintenance of aircraft in the region.
Recently, Surinam Airways’ general manager Henk Jessurun confirmed that his company is interested in buying aircraft from the Chinese company and is eager to hold discussion with the Chinese firm.
According to Suriname’s Deputy Chief of Mission in China, Van Dijk, through the expansion of its aviation activities to Suriname, China is also aiming at expanding its tourism to the Caribbean. During the February 2005 China-CARICOM economical forum in Kingston, Jamaica, China agreed to promote the Caribbean as a special tourist destination to boost travel from China to the region.
The diplomat further noted that CTIC chose Suriname for its activities due to the country’s strategic position on the northern shoulder of South America and as member of the CARICOM. The main challenge for Suriname is to anticipate adequately on this matter, said the official, since China needs Suriname on this.
“If they (China) need you and you could manage to facilitate them, regionally you could play a major role,” said the diplomat.
He further disclosed that key institutes and officials in Suriname are eager to meet with the Chinese delegation, to discuss the proposals. “There is no one excluded that doesn’t want to look into this opportunity; they are all waiting for this opportunity,” Van Dijk further added.
The CATIC Group is a subsidiary organisation of the former Aviation Industries Corporation of China (AVIC), which oversees the research and development, production and sale of all military and civilian aircraft in China. The CATIC Group is not a production entity but rather sells military and civilian aircraft, engines, missiles and other airborne equipment.
CATIC's US$ 1.5 billion in annual business is evenly divided between exporting and importing and export revenue is evenly divided between the sale of military aviation equipment, civilian aviation equipment and non-military equipment. | 
