Suriname Javanese Ethnic Seek to Expand Economic Ties with Their Ancestral Land

Pamaribo, 27 Sya’ban 1437/04 June 2016 (MINA) – Dr Jim Rasam, CEO of Intermed Group, during his visit to Indonesia to participate in the 41st Islamic Bank Governors meeting in Jakarta, used the opportunity to make contacts with potential investors from the Bahasa-speaking nations of Indonesia and Malaysia.

Java is the homeland of Suriname’s ethnic Indonesian population who are predominately Muslim, and who want to expand commerce between Suriname and Indonesia.

From 1890 to 1839, almost 33,000 Javanese migrated to Suriname from Central Java and the regions near Batavia, Semarang and Surabaya. Only 20 to 25 percent returned to Indonesia.

In an interview with Star News of Suriname, Rasam identified various investors from Indonesia who want to do business with Suriname.

According to Rasam, one potential investor has specifically expressed interest in setting up a power plant and medical centre for stem cell research in Suriname.

Last month six Javanese entrepreneurs from Suriname made a working visit to Indonesia.

Rasam is also the project director of the Amanah Bank of Suriname, the first Islamic Bank of its kind in the region.

Islamic Bank-Catalyst to spur SME

At the government to government level, ties are strong but there hasn’t been a visit between the leaders of Indonesia or Suriname to each other’s country in the past decade. And trade between the two countries still hasn’t soared to the expectations of many, especially among Indonesian-Surinamese.

But with a growing Suriname private sector, and especially now that the Islamic Bank is now acting as a catalyst to fund small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) on both sides of the world – Suriname in the West and Indonesia in the Far East – the outlook is promising. With more contacts between the two countries and institutions being established, and with capital being offered now by the Islamic Bank, commerce between the Bahasa-speaking countries will expand.

To expand trade, Rasam said that the strategy is two pronged: through diplomatic and bilateral channels and via the multi-lateral track, the OIC and Islamic Bank membership.

“Now projects can be financed by the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private sector (ICD). Suriname can also expect investors from the OIC countries. This will lead to more foreign direct investment (FDI). We will start with Indonesia, and increase to other countries,” Rasam said.

Rasam has now included Malaysia in his plans and, during his visit to attend the 41st Islamic Bank meeting in Jakarta, he also visited Malaysia to explore investment opportunities. (T/R07/R01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)