Suriname Country Commercial Guide
Learn about the market conditions, opportunities, regulations, and business conditions in suriname, prepared by at U.S. Embassies worldwide by Commerce Department, State Department and other U.S. agencies’ professionals
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Trade Financing
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Methods of Payment

Common methods of payment include a letter of credit or documentary credit, bank drafts, or bank transfers. Suriname has no credit rating agencies. Several banks offer MasterCard- and Visa-branded credit card services.  Most retail transaction are conducted in cash, including U.S. dollars and Euros, which remains a common form of payment. For more information about the methods of payment or other trade finance options, please read the Trade Finance Guide.

Banking Systems

Suriname’s banking system consists of four major commercial banks: Republic Bank, DSB Bank, Fina Bank and Hakrinbank. There are also four smaller local banks. The majority of the banks do not have correspondent arrangements with U.S. banks. Bank transfers occur through the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) system. All the aforementioned banks offer electronic banking services. 

There are no restrictions for foreigners to open a bank account. Banks require U.S. citizens to provide the information necessary to comply with the U.S. Foreign Accounts Tax Compliance Act (FATCA).  Opening a local bank account can take 12 months on average.

Foreign Exchange Controls

There are no restrictions or limitations placed on foreign investors in converting, transferring, or repatriating funds associated with an investment, such as remittances of investment capital, earnings, loan or lease payments, or royalties. 

Funds associated with any form of investment can be freely converted into a usable currency at legal market clearing rates with the permission of the Foreign Exchange Commission. However, the criteria for obtaining permissions are opaque. 

U.S. Banks and Local Correspondent Banks

There are no U.S. banks operating in the market.

For additional information, visit the U.S. Department of State Investment Climate Statements.

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Global Business Navigator Chatbot Beta

Welcome to the Global Business Navigator, an artificial intelligence (AI) Chatbot from the International Trade Administration (ITA). This tool, currently in beta version testing, is designed to provide general information on the exporting process and the resources available to assist new and experienced U.S. exporters. The Chatbot, developed using Microsoft’s Azure AI services, is trained on ITA’s export-related content and aims to quickly get users the information they need. The Chatbot is intended to make the benefits of exporting more accessible by understanding non-expert language, idiomatic expressions, and foreign languages.

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As a beta product, the Chatbot is currently being tested and its responses may occasionally produce inaccurate or incomplete information. The Chatbot is trained to decline out of scope or inappropriate requests. The Chatbot’s knowledge is limited to the public information on the Export Solutions web pages of Trade.gov, which covers a wide range of topics on exporting. While it cannot provide responses specific to a company’s product or a specific foreign market, its reference pages will guide you to other relevant government resources and market research. Always double-check the Chatbot’s responses using the provided references or by visiting the Export Solutions web pages on Trade.gov. Do not use its responses as legal or professional advice. Inaccurate advice from the Chatbot would not be a defense to violating any export rules or regulations.

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