By Ray Chickrie
PARAMARIBO, Suriname — The first Islamic Bank in the Caribbean and Latin America, Trustbank Amanah of Suriname and its multilateral strategic partner, the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD), a working arm of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB Group) will host the First Caribbean Islamic Finance Forum Islamic Finance and Private Sector, under the theme, Connection for Development, on Friday, November 15 at the Royal Ballroom of Torarica in Paramaribo, Suriname.
“The forum will explore in more detail the role and possibilities of Islamic finance for the development and support of the private sector in Suriname. Attention will also be paid to the Surinamese economy and the business climate with an emphasis on the prospects for the development of Islamic banking and financial investments in Suriname,” the bank said in a release.
“This forum also aims to mobilize resources to Suriname in the context of the economic integration of member states, to promote reverse linkage and to form strategic partnerships with ICD’s partners in member states; with a focus on new opportunities to support the needs of the private sector.
“Reverse linkage is a South/South cooperation spearheaded by the Islamic Development Bank to create synergy and bring technology and capacity to its member states in areas like banking, tourism, agriculture, aviation, healthcare, and technology.
“The forum will provide a unique opportunity for business people and policymakers to network and enter into new business relationships with Trustbank Amanah, the ICD and other key representatives in the business world in Suriname and the Caribbean,” the release said.
In addition to invited guests, interested parties can register to participate in this forum by November 10.
Suriname and Guyana are members of the Islamic Development Bank and have fostered closer cooperation with the Islamic Bank group which is supporting various projects in those countries through grants and concessional loans. Besides, the IsDB will soon open a regional office in Paramaribo which will enhance stronger cooperation and project implementations in Suriname, Guyana and the Caribbean.
