Business events and trade fairs for Surinamese companies

Suriname's business calendar has a few fixed anchors: the SEOGS oil and gas summit in June, the Agricultural Fair in early May, the Suriname-Guyana International Business Conference in October and the Chamber of Commerce's monthly business evenings. In the region the Caribbean Investment Forum and the big energy fairs count, and in the Netherlands the number of diaspora events is growing. Below, for each event: who attends, when, who organises and why you would go, plus a calendar by month and practical tips for trade fairs and trade missions.

SEOGS 2026

23-26 Jun

6th edition, Roeli's Event Center, Paramaribo

IBC Suriname-Guyana

13-15 Oct

2026, 4th edition, Assuria Event Center

Next big one: SelectUSA

2-5 May

2027, National Harbor near Washington

On this page (11)

Calendar by month
Major events in Suriname
In the region and beyond
Trade missions
Diaspora events
How to get the most from a trade fair
How to get the most from a trade mission
What does it cost?
What if...
Sources
Frequently asked questions

In short

Supplier to oil and gas? SEOGS in June is the main stage: Staatsolie, TotalEnergies, foreign contractors and hundreds of exhibitors in one place.
Farming or food? The Ministry of Agriculture's Agricultural Fair (early May, KKF fairground) is also a selling fair.
Looking for investors? IBC Suriname-Guyana (October), the Caribbean Investment Forum (October, host country rotates) and SelectUSA if you want to expand into the US.
New entrepreneur? The free business evenings of the Chamber of Commerce (KKF) and its oil and gas information desk (every Monday morning) are the easiest start.
From the diaspora? In the Netherlands: the SUSU business event (3 December 2026, Amsterdam) and the SUSU Summit (April 2027). See Doing business from the diaspora.
Getting trade fair costs back: SITA's Cost Share Grant refunds up to 90% of trade fair participation for exporters. See Grants and support programmes.

Calendar by month

A date is only given if the organiser or the government has published it. Otherwise you see the month in which the event usually takes place. Always check the current date with the organiser before you book.

Month	Event	Where	For whom
Every month	KKF business evenings; oil and gas information desk (Monday 9 am to 1 pm)	KKF, Gravenberchstraat 33	All entrepreneurs, free
February	FHR Business Fair (student companies, early February); Suriname Silicon Valley Summit (10 February 2026)	Paramaribo	Starters, ICT, recruiters
February	Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo (usually February)	Georgetown	Oil and gas suppliers
March-April	Caribbean Energy Week (first edition 30 March to 1 April 2026)	Paramaribo	Energy, mining, financiers
April	UN SDG Investment Fair (20 to 24 April 2026); SUSU Summit (April 2027)	New York; Amsterdam	Large projects; diaspora
May	Agricultural Fair of the Ministry of Agriculture (1 to 3 May 2026); SelectUSA (2 to 5 May 2027); SUMADE Expo (28 and 29 May 2026)	KKF fairground; Maryland; Ballroom Prince	Farming and food; expanding into the US; local products
June	SEOGS (23 to 26 June 2026)	Roeli's Event Center	Oil, gas, energy, supply chain
July	ICT Summit Suriname (usually early July); National Compliance Congress (usually July)	Paramaribo	ICT; banks, compliance officers
July-August	Green Awareness Expo (31 July to 2 August 2025)	Torarica	Sustainable products and services
August-October	National Development Summit and Suriname 3.0 Summit (3 August and 22 October 2026)	Paramaribo	Policy, sector bodies
September	HUB Cámara Santo Domingo (usually September); Guyane Excellence (first edition September 2025)	Santo Domingo; Cayenne	Buyers, exporters
October	Caribbean Investment Forum (5 to 7 October 2026); IBC Suriname-Guyana (13 to 15 October 2026)	Barbados; Paramaribo	Investors, project developers
December	SUSU & Partners Business Event (3 December 2026); Entrepreneurship Fair & Braderie (13 December 2025)	Amsterdam; Congress Hall	Diaspora; young entrepreneurs

Past dates are the last edition we could verify; the next edition usually falls in the same month.

Major events in Suriname

SEOGS: Suriname Energy, Oil & Gas Summit & Exhibition

What: the country's largest energy conference and exhibition, with an executive summit, a technical conference and an exhibition. Organiser: Staatsolie is the host, with government support. When: every year in June; the 6th edition was on 23 to 26 June 2026 at Roeli's Event Center, themed "Unlocking Energy, Empowering Nations". Jamaica's prime minister spoke there on 24 June. Who attends: Staatsolie, the offshore operators, international contractors, ministries, banks, foreign delegations (in 2025 a US delegation through the U.S. Commercial Service, in 2025 and 2026 a pavilion of the Suriname-Guyana Chamber of Commerce) and local suppliers. Why go: if you want to supply the oil and gas chain, you see the buyers in four days, hear which contracts are coming and can register. Passes are expensive (in 2025 a three-day technical pass was valued at USD 1,390), but the exhibition floor is often more accessible for visitors. See Oil and gas.

International Business Conference (IBC) Suriname-Guyana

What: an investment conference with panels and business matching. Organiser: the Suriname-Guyana Chamber of Commerce, supported by SITA and the Guyana Office for Investment; Caribbean Export was a Business Support Partner in 2026. When: the 4th edition was on 13 to 15 October 2026 at the Assuria Event Center, themed "From Energy to Industry: Investing in the Suriname-Guyana Value Chain". The host country alternates between Suriname and Guyana. Why go: you meet Guyanese and international firms building the chain from oil to industry, logistics and services, and investors looking at both countries.

Caribbean Energy Week

The first edition opened on 30 March 2026 in Paramaribo, with CARICOM energy ministers, national oil companies, Afreximbank and international energy firms. Topics: oil and gas, renewables, critical minerals, carbon credits. Of interest if you are in energy, mining or finance and want regional contacts.

Agricultural Fair (Agrarische Beurs)

Organiser: the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries (LVV). When: early May; in 2026 from 1 to 3 May at the KKF fairground on the Kernkampweg, opened by the president, themed "Accelerated development of the agricultural sector"; in 2023 from 5 to 7 May. Who attends: farmers, processors, suppliers of seed, fertiliser and machinery, research institutes, banks and a large public. Why go: you can sell directly, and it is the place to meet the ministry, buyers and financiers in one go. See Starting an agribusiness.

ICT Summit Suriname and Suriname Silicon Valley Summit

The ICT Association of Suriname runs the ICT Summit; the 7th edition was on 3 and 4 July 2025 at Torarica, themed "Digital Development, Growth & Inclusion". On 10 February 2026 the Father Mother Figure foundation held the first Suriname Silicon Valley Summit, on talent, cybersecurity and governance. Good for ICT firms, employers looking for ICT staff and anyone going digital.

Green Awareness Expo

A three-day sustainability expo by the Torarica Group in the Torarica ballroom; the 2025 edition ran from 31 July to 2 August. Firms with a sustainable product or service can apply for a stand. See Sustainable business.

Congresses for the financial sector

TABTO Group's National Compliance Congress (since 2019, usually in July) targets compliance officers, banks, insurers and other reporting entities, with masterclasses on anti-money laundering rules and international requirements. See Anti-money laundering rules. Around Global Money Week (March) there are financial education fairs, such as on 18 March 2026 in Nickerie.

Policy meetings

The Ministry of Oil, Gas and Environment launched the National Development Summit on 3 August 2026, a process towards a national vision for 2050; the third session, the Suriname 3.0 Summit, was on 22 October 2026. Sector bodies help decide which sectors get priority. Organised employers held a congress on 50 years of independence in November 2025. Such meetings bring no orders, but they show where policy and money are heading.

Local fairs, braderies and markets

FHR Business Fair: every year in early February on the FHR School of Business campus; second-year students present their companies. Good for spotting young talent and new products.
Entrepreneurship Fair & Braderie of the RUMAS foundation, on 13 December 2025 in the Congress Hall, for young entrepreneurs.
SUMADE Expo on 28 and 29 May 2026 in Ballroom Prince, where the Standards Bureau gave a workshop on certification and labels.
Braderies and markets in the districts, such as in Para, are held under a permit from the district commissioner. For small producers a cheap way to test products and prices. See Business by district.
The Jaarbeurs (annual trade fair) of the KKF was for years the largest public fair (the 17th edition in November 2014). We could not find a recent edition.

KKF: business evenings and information desk

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry regularly holds free evenings in Paramaribo, in 2026 on tax duties and registration, annual accounts, ISO certification, cybersecurity, AI in farming and the role of the Suriname National Training Authority. Every Monday from 9 am to 1 pm there is an information desk on opportunities in oil and gas. Registration is required; announcements are on the KKF site. In December 2025 the KKF hosted a delegation of British investors.

In the region and beyond

Caribbean Investment Forum (CIF): Caribbean Export's investment forum, with projects looking for investors. The 2026 edition was on 5 to 7 October at the Hilton Barbados, themed "Invest. Innovate. Accelerate."; USD 39 million in projects was presented. The host country rotates. Good if you have an investment-ready project.
ACS Business Forum of the Association of Caribbean States: the 16th edition was on 6 May 2024 at Torarica, the first time in Suriname, with a business fair of more than 60 participants. The forum moves with the ACS meetings.
Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo: usually in February in Georgetown. For suppliers that also want to work in Guyana.
SelectUSA Investment Summit: the largest event for foreign investment in the US. The 2027 edition is on 2 to 5 May in National Harbor, Maryland. For firms that want to expand into the US or set up there.
SDG Investment Fair (UN, New York): for investment-ready projects of USD 30 million and up that contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals. The 2026 edition was on 20 to 24 April; candidates submit through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which posts the call on gov.sr.
HUB Cámara Santo Domingo: a B2B export fair in the Dominican Republic (the 6th edition was in September 2024), with a ProDominicana incentive programme for foreign buyers. Of interest to importers; since 2026 there has been a direct flight Paramaribo-Santo Domingo.
Guyane Excellence: a fair of the Collectivité Territoriale de Guyane in Cayenne for craftsmanship, farming, tourism and innovation; the first edition was in September 2025. French Guiana is EU territory: see EU rules for Surinamese suppliers.
CDB annual meeting: the Caribbean Development Bank's Board of Governors meets every year in a member country. Mainly for governments and banks; of interest if you are looking for projects the CDB finances.

Trade missions

A trade mission is an organised trip by a group of companies with a programme of meetings. They come in two directions.

Missions to Suriname

Aruba: in June 2024 a mission led by Aruba's Minister of Economic Affairs came with the Aruba Chamber of Commerce and the Aruba Trade & Industry Association.
United States: in June 2025 a US delegation, through the U.S. Commercial Service and the embassy, took part in SEOGS with B2B meetings with pre-screened buyers, agents and partners.
Guyana: the Suriname-Guyana Chamber of Commerce brought a trade mission and pavilion to SEOGS in 2025 and 2026.
United Kingdom: on 1 December 2025 Surinamese firms met a delegation of British companies with investment capital for medium and large businesses at the KKF.
Diaspora: diaspora organisations in the Netherlands also organise trips to Suriname; see Doing business from the diaspora.

For Surinamese firms an incoming mission is the cheapest opportunity: you do not travel, and the organiser plans the B2B meetings. Get on the list through the KKF, SITA or your industry body.

Missions from Suriname

SITA took companies on missions to Aruba, Curaçao and Barbados in 2024 and coordinates business delegations on state visits.
Dominican Republic: during President Simons' visit at the end of May 2026 the two countries signed six cooperation agreements, including a memorandum between the trade and investment agencies. In 2023 a business delegation joined a state visit; flights and hotels were at the participants' own cost.
Caribbean Export organises regional missions, such as the 2026 GRIT mission to Canada for Indigenous women entrepreneurs.

Which countries are interesting and which agreements apply: Doing business by country and Trade agreements and market access. Travelling for business: Business trip to Suriname.

Diaspora events

Diaspora Business Summit: the first edition was on 6 to 8 February 2025 in Paramaribo, organised by the Diaspora Institute Suriname and the Foreign Ministry's International Business Directorate.
Diaspora Homecoming Summit Suriname: on 18 October 2025, supported by the Diaspora Institute Netherlands and the Diaspora Institute Suriname.
PSA Diaspora and Investors Dialogue: on 3 May 2026 in Amsterdam, prepared by the Surinamese embassy, with the Speaker of the National Assembly.
Living, Investing and Doing Business in Suriname: meetings of the Diaspora Institute Netherlands and Sur Estate Group on 30 May and 19 September 2026 near Schiphol; the next one is expected around February 2027.
SUSU & Partners Business Event: 3 December 2026, 5 pm to 9 pm, Amsterdam (near Amstel station), free with a ticket. The SUSU Summit is planned for April 2027 at the Passenger Terminal Amsterdam.

How to get the most from a trade fair

Before (six to eight weeks ahead)

Pick your goal. Sell, find buyers, a distributor, an investor or market information? One main goal, with a number: "15 meetings with buyers, 3 requests for quotation".
Choose visitor or exhibitor. A stand costs money and people, but draws buyers to you. As a visitor you are more flexible and cheaper. The first time, visiting is often smarter.
Study the list of exhibitors and speakers and make a top ten of people you want to meet. Email them for an appointment beforehand; at the big energy fairs diaries fill up fast.
Prepare your material. Business cards, a one-page product sheet in English, a price list, samples, a QR code to your website or WhatsApp. Useful tools: Business card maker, Price list or menu, QR code generator.
Know your figures. Minimum order quantity, lead time, ex-works and delivered price, certificates. A buyer who gets no answer does not come back.
Apply for a grant before you book. Exporters can get up to 90% of trade fair costs back through SITA, but only if approved beforehand.

During the fair

Stand in front of your stand, not behind it; approach people with a question, not a brochure
Right after each conversation, note who, which company, what they need and the agreed next step
Photograph business cards or scan them into your phone
Go to the networking sessions and panels: that is where the decision makers are
Look at competitors: prices, packaging, what buyers ask

After (the first week counts)

Send a personal email within 48 hours with what you agreed
Send quotes within a week; use Quote generator or Proforma invoice
Put all contacts in one list with status and next action
Take stock: costs against quotes and orders after three and six months
If you have a grant, hand in receipts and evidence on time

How to get the most from a trade mission

Ask what is arranged. Who plans the B2B meetings, with which companies, and who pays flights, hotel and transport? On government missions you often pay your own travel and accommodation.
Submit a sharp profile. What you sell or look for, in which volumes, with which certificates. The more precise, the better the matches.
Do your homework on the country. Import rules, tariffs, payment habits, language. See Doing business by country and Market research.
Add your own meetings. The official agenda is a start; add a day or two for visits to buyers, shops and ports.
Cost the trip with Trip and delivery cost, including samples, translation and an exchange rate buffer.
Talk to the organiser afterwards about follow-up: a return visit, a trial shipment, a joint stand at a fair.

What does it cost?

Prices vary widely. A few benchmarks we could verify: the US delegation to SEOGS 2025 cost USD 2,000 or USD 2,500 per company, including a SEOGS pass valued at USD 1,390 (three days) or USD 1,995 (four days). The KKF evenings and the SUSU business event are free. Local public fairs are free or cheap for visitors; a stand costs more. Always ask for the exhibitor manual with prices, and add: fit-out, staff, samples, printing, transport and accommodation. Set your budget against the sales you realistically expect with ROI and payback.

What if...

...I have no money for a stand? Go as a visitor, or share a stand: at the ACS Business Forum two companies shared a 3 by 2 metre stand. Also ask whether your industry body, SITA or a ministry has a pavilion.
...I do not know whether an event is reliable? Check whether a government, chamber or known organiser is involved, and whether there was a previous edition. Never pay for "exclusive investor lists" or a guaranteed meeting.
...the event is abroad and I need a visa? Start early; ask the organiser for an invitation letter. See Business trip to Suriname.
...I want to supply oil and gas but find SEOGS too expensive? Start with the KKF's free information desk on Mondays and the operators' supplier registration. See Oil and gas and Become an oil and gas supplier.
...I want to organise an event myself? Expect to need a permit from the district commissioner for a public venue, and rules on safety and noise. See Business licences and Workplace safety.

Sources

Checked on 26 October 2026. Dates change and editions are sometimes moved or cancelled. Always check with the organiser before you travel or pay.

Frequently asked questions

When is SEOGS?

The Suriname Energy, Oil & Gas Summit is held every June, hosted by Staatsolie. The 6th edition was on 23 to 26 June 2026 at Roeli's Event Center in Paramaribo.

When is the Agricultural Fair?

Usually in early May. In 2026 the Ministry of Agriculture held it from 1 to 3 May at the KKF fairground on the Kernkampweg; exhibitors can also sell directly.

Which free business meetings are there in Paramaribo?

The Chamber of Commerce (KKF) regularly holds free business evenings on tax, annual accounts, ISO and cybersecurity, among others, and every Monday from 9 am to 1 pm an oil and gas information desk. Registration is required.

Can I get a grant for taking part in a trade fair abroad?

Yes, as an exporter. SITA's Cost Share Grant refunds up to 90% of trade fair participation if you have an approved export plan and the application was approved beforehand.

Which diaspora events on doing business in Suriname are held in the Netherlands?

Among others the SUSU & Partners Business Event on 3 December 2026 in Amsterdam (free), the SUSU Summit in April 2027 and the Living, Investing and Doing Business meetings of the Diaspora Institute Netherlands.

How do I join a trade mission?

Ask SITA, the KKF or your industry body to put you on the list for incoming and outgoing missions. On government missions you usually pay your own travel and stay; the organiser plans the B2B meetings.