Countries
Suriname
Suriname is an upper middle income country which saw its GNI per capita rise from 2540 US $ in 2007 to 6975 US $ in 2011. Improving the business climate does not seem to be a priority as the country’s ranking in the WB Doing Business report slipped from 122nd place in 2007 to 158th in 2011. The obstacles to private enterprise are daunting: starting a business takes 694 days (probably a world record) , registering property takes 197 days and enforcing a contract would take a record-breaking 1715 days.
Surinam’s employers’ interests are being represented by the Vereniging Surinaams Bedrijfsleven (VSB). DECP first contacted the VSB through a fact-finding mission in 2006. DECP and VSB subsequently concluded a partnership agreement in 2007.
Cooperation between VSB and DECP has focussed on improving VSB’s financial position, on its lobbying role as the voice of business vis-à-vis the government and on raising its public profile both with its own members and with the press and the public at large.