suriname is entering a new phase of public-sector modernization as President Jennifer Simons pushes to accelerate the digitalization of government services, with immediate attention centered on revenue-critical agencies.
In talks held on Friday, Simons met with a delegation from Dalil, a technology company from Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), to discuss digital transformation focused on the state apparatus. The government’s stated aim is to digitize frequently bureaucratic processes to improve services for citizens and reduce waiting times at public offices, while also insisting that existing procedures must be followed during implementation.
What happens when Suriname prioritizes Customs and tax digitalization for faster revenues?
President Simons has publicly framed the digitalization of Customs as urgent, linking it directly to the state’s need for additional revenue. She said the government is moving quickly because extra income is needed, and pointed to earlier smaller measures that she said resulted in higher revenues.
At a government press conference held on Friday, Simons also referenced a calculation by the Tax Authority indicating that if everything functions properly and as expected, state revenues could increase substantially. Alongside Customs, the administration intends to further modernize and strengthen the Tax Authority, with the same objective of increasing inflows to the state treasury.
While the government plans to digitalize additional services to make them more accessible to citizens—Simons mentioned the Ministry of Social Affairs and Public Housing as an example—she emphasized that the government’s full attention is currently on the two most important revenue-generating services. Simons has stated she wants the government to bring in more resources already this year.
What if the UAE-based Dalil partnership becomes the blueprint for Suriname’s e-government push?
The meeting with Dalil placed secure identification and border management expertise on the table, areas in which the Abu Dhabi-based firm specializes. Dalil offered to share its expertise to raise the level of Suriname’s digital infrastructure, aligning with the administration’s drive to speed up digitalization across government services.
In the days leading up to the meeting, a Dalil team carried out orientation visits to ministries and other government institutions. Under the leadership of the e-Government program, an extensive inventory was conducted to map the current state of digitalization in Suriname.
Llydion Dalfour, Director of e-Government, said Suriname can learn from the UAE’s experience in digitalization, describing Dalil as a highly regarded technical organization within the UAE that is in Suriname to share its experience. Ahmed Al Houti, Dalil’s Business Development Director, also spoke positively about the talks, presenting the company’s approach as focused not only on commercial gain but on building sustainable state-to-state cooperation using technology to increase government efficiency.
The discussions have produced what the government described as a concrete action plan. Dalil is expected to submit a formal proposal in the short term based on findings from the visits. The government intends for relevant technical authorities to review that proposal to assess feasibility and determine possible next steps for cooperation.
What happens when digital modernization expands beyond core agencies into other sectors?
Beyond the digitalization of government services, the investor also sees opportunities in other sectors, including aviation. For now, the administration’s messaging remains anchored in its immediate focus: revenue-generating agencies first, broader accessibility and service improvements next.
Simons has also flagged that the gold and timber sectors require additional attention, arguing that relatively little revenue comes in from both sectors. For gold, she cited two measures already taken to increase revenues: a temporary reduction in royalties and a retention arrangement housed at the Central Bank of Suriname (CBvS). She characterized these steps as only the beginning and said the government is in talks with the gold sector to explore additional ways to increase revenue for the state.
Together, the agenda outlined by Simons links three tracks into a single direction of travel: accelerating digitalization where the fiscal impact is largest (Customs and the Tax Authority), using structured assessments through e-Government and potential outside expertise (Dalil), and pairing modernization with sector-focused measures designed to improve state income. The balance the government says it intends to maintain—moving fast while following existing procedures—will shape how quickly Suriname’s plans translate into measurable changes in service delivery and revenues.
