Suriname Invites Malaysian Investors

SERDANG (Selangor, Malaysia), Dec 7 (Bernama) -- The Suriname government is inviting Malaysian businesses to invest in its agriculture, fisheries, manufacturing, information technology and energy sectors. Suriname Ambassador to Malaysia Anwer S. Lall Mohamed said the invitation is part of the South American country's efforts to boost foreign direct investment activities. "We have an abundance of areas available (with infrastructure) which have not been utilised, especially for paddy cultivation and timber. "Hence, we would like to share knowledge with Malaysia, which has its own in-house expertise in many areas to benefit both parties," he told reporters after the Suriname Trade and Business Forum here Wednesday. Mohamed noted that his country is working on new instruments and legal frameworks for 2017 to benefit foreign investors. "Many incentives and mechanisms will be planned to promote foreign investment including reduction of corporate tax to 20 per cent from the previous 36 per cent, harmonised incentives and simplified laws," he added. Meanwhile, Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI) Holdings Sdn Bhd group chief executive officer Anas Ahmad Nasarudin said there is a ready supply of relegated areas for local farmers to explore further in Suriname. He said there are some 20,000 hectares of unutilised land for paddy cultivation, which can be developed with the company's expertise and technology. "The business would generate a handsome profit as rice is an export product, with Suriname having preferential treatment in the European market and also being closely related to the Dutch. "The same goes for other commodities such as sugarcane and banana," said Anas. Suriname is a small country on the northeastern coast of South America. --BERNAMA