Suriname: Noura Al Kaabi, Minister of State, concluded an official visit to the Republic of Suriname, which delivered outcomes aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation between the two nations in several key strategic areas, such as digitisation, tourism, cultural exchange, capacity building, and trade. Al Kaabi was accompanied by Omar Shehadeh, UAE Envoy of the Minister of Foreign Affairs to the Caribbean and Pacific States.
According to Emirates News Agency, during the visit, Al Kaabi met with Jennifer Geerlings-Simons, President of Suriname, and several ministers, including Melvin Bouva, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Business and Cooperation, and Andrew Baasaron, Minister of Economic Affairs, Entrepreneurship and Technological Innovation. Al Kaabi congratulated President Geerlings-Simons on her election as the first female President of Suriname in July 2025.
Al Kaabi also conveyed greetings from UAE leaders to the President of Suriname, expressing wishes for further progress and prosperity for Suriname. In return, President Geerlings-Simons sent her greetings to UAE leaders and expressed her wishes for the UAE's continued development and prosperity.
President Geerlings-Simons discussed Suriname's economic vision, which includes using new oil and gas discoveries for economic growth. Discussions focused on collaboration in renewable energy, digitization, cybersecurity, and technical cooperation. She expressed interest in learning from the UAE's experience in economic diversification.
The meeting with Minister Bouva involved discussions on regional developments and Suriname's participation in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). Both sides agreed to accelerate cooperation in digitization and cybersecurity and committed to finalizing economic treaties and expanding cooperation in agriculture, food security, and sustainable development.
The delegation visited the Saint Peter and Paul Cathedral, highlighting Suriname's inter-religious harmony, which reflects the coexistence and religious diversity similar to the UAE. Al Kaabi emphasized the significance of such harmony during the visit.
Reflecting on the visit, Al Kaabi stated the UAE's commitment to building strong partnerships with Suriname. She highlighted the importance of combining strengths in oil and gas, digital transformation, innovation, and sustainable development to create opportunities for future generations.