Suriname Accelerates Digitalization with UAE Firm as Customs Pushes for Revenue Gains
President Jennifer Simons has begun an accelerated program to digitalize government services in Suriname after opening talks with Abu Dhabi-based Dalil. The move targets immediate revenue growth through faster modernization of Customs and the Tax Service while mapping wider reforms across ministries.
Dalil delegation in Suriname
A delegation from Dalil, a technology company from the United Arab Emirates that specializes in secure identification and border management, met with the president last Friday to discuss a partnership on digital transformation. Over the past days, a Dalil team conducted orientation visits to several ministries and governmental bodies, under the leadership of the national e-Government programme, completing an extensive inventory of the current state of digitalization in the public sector.
Llydion Dalfour, director of e-Government, said the country can draw on the technological experience of the UAE. Dalil’s Business Development Director, Ahmed Al Houti, described the talks as focused on building a sustainable intergovernmental collaboration that uses technology to improve government efficiency. Dalil has indicated it will submit a formal proposal on a short timeline based on its findings during the site visits; the government will have technical authorities review the proposal to determine feasibility and next steps.
Digitalisering van Douane en Belastingdienst
Simons has placed particular emphasis on digitizing the Douane (Customs) with urgency, citing the state’s need for extra revenue. She said the government has already tested smaller measures that produced higher receipts, and that a calculation by the Tax Service (Belastingdienst) shows state revenues would increase substantially if the new systems operate as expected.
The administration has prioritized two principal income-generating agencies—Customs and the Tax Service—as the main focus for this year’s revenue drive. The president stated the government intends to collect more funds within the current year by modernizing and strengthening these two institutions. The digital work will extend later to other services, with the Ministry of Social Affairs and Housing named as an example of additional agencies that could become more accessible through online systems.
Beyond tax administration, Dalil has identified potential opportunities in other sectors, including aviation, as part of its scope for partnership.
Fiscal measures and sector attention
Alongside the digital push, the government is taking targeted fiscal steps in resource sectors to shore up revenue. In the gold sector, two measures have already been implemented: a temporary lowering of royalties and a retention arrangement placed with the Central Bank of Suriname (CBvS). Simons said those steps are early measures and that discussions with the gold industry continue to explore additional ways to increase state receipts. She also singled out the timber sector as an area that warrants heightened attention because it currently yields relatively limited income for the state.
What makes this notable is the combination of an external technology partner and concurrent fiscal tweaks designed to deliver faster, measurable revenue gains: the digital tools are intended to improve collection and administration, while royalty and retention changes address immediate shortfalls. The timing matters because the government has set a clear expectation that tangible increases in funds should materialize within the year.
Officials emphasize that while the government wants to move quickly, all implementations will follow established procedures and be vetted by the relevant technical authorities. The next concrete milestone will be Dalil’s formal proposal, which the government will examine to determine the scope and sequencing of pilot projects, procurement steps and institutional responsibilities.
With the Dalil assessment complete and technical reviews to come, Suriname now faces an operational phase where policy choices, procurement discipline and systems integration will determine whether the anticipated revenue improvements and service gains are realized.
