On 28 June, the President of Suriname and the Governor of the Central Bank of Suriname officially launched the country’s National Financial Inclusion and Education Strategy (NFIES).

“Financial education goes hand in hand with financial inclusion,” said President Chandrikapersad Santokhi, who called on all national stakeholders to implement the NFIES and work together to promote an inclusive and prosperous society.

Governor Maurice Roemer of the Central Bank of Suriname said that the plan aims to remove barriers to the financial system and to promote an inclusive financial sector, while contributing to a number of sustainable development goals.

The National Financial Inclusion and Education Strategy focuses on five core areas:

• Improved Access to Financial Services: increasing the number of people using banks, microfinance institutions and other financial service providers.
• Financial Education: developing and implementing educational programs to make citizens more aware and informed about financial products and services.
• Strengthening Regulatory Frameworks: improving regulation and supervision to promote a stable and inclusive financial sector.
• Innovation and Technology: stimulating the adoption of FinTech solutions to make financial services more accessible and affordable.
• Supporting Entrepreneurship: Increasing the access of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to the formal financial system, to promote their growth and development.

The launch of the NFIES is just the beginning of a long process. The Central Bank will conduct annual progress evaluations, adjusting the strategy where necessary to ensure its objectives are achieved, and helping Suriname to move towards a more inclusive and resilient economy.

You can learn more about the Central Bank of Suriname’s work to advance financial inclusion on their website.