Suriname signs US$30 Million Trade Finance Agreement with Islamic Bank

Hani Salem Sonbol (right), CEO ITFC and Gillmore Hoefdraad, Minister of Finance of Suriname and IsDB Governor, shake hands after signing the agreement.

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, 21 Rabiul Awwal 1438/20 December 2016 (MINA) – Gillmore Hoefdraad, minister of finance of Suriname, made a special visit last week to Saudi Arabia where he signed a US$30 million syndicated murabaha (non-interest-bearing) term sheet for supporting Suriname’s economic development through financing strategic imports, according to press release from the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC), a member of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group.

The $30 million financing extended to Suriname is to support the agricultural, medical and industrial sectors. Supplies that will be purchased under this arrangement include basic goods, raw material for production of basic goods, inputs for the agriculture sector, in addition to medicine and medical supplies, Caribbeannewsnow.com reported Tuesday.

Commenting on the signing, Eng. Hani Salem Sonbol, ITFC CEO, said, “This trade financing is at the heart of ITFC’s role in supporting the development of strategic commodities that underpin a nation’s economic welfare and thus provide sustainable livelihoods to a significant proportion of the population.”

Moreover, ITFC is indirectly contributing to the social welfare and economic recovery of Suriname.

Hoefdraad commended the role of the IsDB Group in Suriname’s socio-economic development. He added that Suriname relies heavily on imports for consumption; and this operation will benefit all economic sectors.

“Sustaining these imports is of strategic importance to the economic development of the country,” he said.

The IsDB Group has provided financial assistance amounting to US$145 million for the health, education and transport sectors of Suriname. (T/R07/R01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)