This article covers India's development partnership with Suriname: lines of credit, grants and community projects, humanitarian and medical assistance, training under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme, and cooperation in energy, digital technology, traditional medicine and defence. Its source is the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) bilateral brief on Suriname, dated June 2026.

Lines of credit

According to the MEA brief of June 2026, India has offered Lines of Credit (LOCs) to Suriname cumulatively to the tune of US$ 60 million over the years. Suriname has used them for infrastructure development and for enhancing the capacity of strategic sectors.

A debt restructuring agreement was approved by the Indian side and signed by the Suriname side on 22 March 2023. Suriname signed a "Dollar Credit Line Restructuring Agreement" with EXIM Bank of India.

Food security assistance

Under India's Social Welfare initiative, India extended food security assistance to Suriname worth about USD 10 million. About 132 full-size containers carrying 28 food items were delivered from India in three tranches in 2025.

Grants under the India-UNDP Fund

In September 2019, Prime Minister Modi announced a US$1 million grant for each CariCom member State for community development projects under the India-UNDP Fund. In Suriname, the project "Enhance early warning service delivery to communities of Suriname in order to build their resilience to flooding due to excess rainfall", at a cost of US$ .25 million, has been completed.

Two further projects have been approved under the fund: the repair of a swimming pool and stadium ($400,000) and the construction of a building for CEIT ($350,000).

SME grant and quick impact projects

Under a US$ 1mn Grant for the SME Sector through the supply of machinery from India, announced by the EAM at the India-COFCOR meeting in Guyana, Suriname established a passion fruit packaging and processing unit. NABCONS, the implementation partner, carried out a feasibility study in July 2024 and found the project fit for implementation. The facility was commissioned with Indian support, and the technical handover took place on 07th May 2026 in the presence of EAM Jaishankar.

Four small community development Quick Impact Projects have been completed:

  • 'Promoting recreational activities for the society in Nickerie by rehabilitating the DC Roblesplein'
  • 'Supporting ICT education of TVET secondary schools in Suriname by upgrading IT Equipment at the Educational Classroom of NATIN'
  • 'Supporting various sports facilities in Suriname by setting up a synthetic jogging track at Lelydorp in the District of Wanica'
  • 'Sustainable Support of a chemical teaching laboratory at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FWNW) of the Anton de Kom University of Suriname (AdeKUS) by amplification of the electrical network and purchase of relevant supplies'

A further project, the installation of a traffic light near Lyceum school, is ready for hand-over.

Medical and humanitarian assistance

India provided lifesaving drugs and protective gear worth USD 100,000 to Suriname as a Covid 19 relief grant, and 50000 doses of Covid vaccines in March 2021. Essential medicines worth over USD 600,000 were provided to Suriname in August 2023.

Earlier grants recorded in the brief include:

  • $ 3,11,567.21 sanctioned by the MEA in 2015-16 for upgrading the S' Lands Hospital morgue in Paramaribo
  • a $ 1,69,400 grant to the Institute for Natural Resources and Engineering Studies (NATIN)
  • a cheque of $150,000 handed over by General V.K. Singh in 2017 as humanitarian assistance for the rehabilitation of flood victims
  • grants in 2017 of $29,988 for school-going children and $37,250 for annual Christmas celebrations with senior citizens
  • cash assistance of US$50,000 in August 2018 for flood victims

During the visit of the President of India in June 2018, two small grant projects for community development and women entrepreneurship were announced: a Craft Market place at Paramaribo for US$ 175,602, and US$ 109,800 for 200 computers for students. The first lady of India donated US$10,000 to the Mytyl School, a special needs school.

Training and capacity building

The brief states that Suriname is one of the largest beneficiaries of ITEC and that, as an ITEC partner country, it has made use of over 550 ITEC slots. Surinamese officials also attend special training programmes:

  • In June 2019, two senior officers took part in a specialised ITEC training programme for CariCom mid-level and senior customs officers.
  • Ms. Gajadin Raginie, an officer in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, took part in the 3rd Global South Young Diplomats Forum (GSYDF) in New Delhi from 08-19 September 2025.
  • Three Surinamese diplomats attended the 1st Special Course for Diplomats for Central & South America and Caribbean Islands at SSIFS in Oct-Nov. 2025.

Sector cooperation

Surinamese ministers and officials have also taken part in Indian-hosted events in specific sectors:

  • Energy: Minister of Natural Resources David Abiamofo, accompanied by Drs. Valerie Lalji, Director of Energy, attended the 8th Session of the International Solar Alliance Assembly in India from 27-30 October 2025. NTPC is working on an ISA demonstration grant project, 'supply, installation, commissioning of solar water pumping solution', at a grant cost of $40,174.
  • Digital: Ms. Rishma Kuldipsingh visited India in June 2023 for the Global Digital Public Infrastructure Summit, when the IndiaStack MoU with Suriname was signed. Mr. Andrew Baasaron, Minister of Economic Affairs, Entrepreneurship and Technological Innovation, led a delegation to the India AI Impact Summit from 16-20 February 2026.
  • Traditional medicine: an MoU on Traditional Systems of Medicine was signed in January 2020. A five-member Surinamese delegation, including a member of the National Assembly and representatives of the Foreign and Health Ministries, attended the 2nd WHO Global Summit on the Traditional Medicine in India from 17-19 December 2025.
  • Defence: a defence delegation from Suriname attended Aero India 2025.