Doing business in Coronie
Coronie lies on the coast between Saramacca and Nickerie and, with 3,391 inhabitants (2012), is the smallest district by population. The capital is Totness. The district is known for its coconut palms and has large new farming projects under way.
On this page (8)
- Economy: Coconut, new farming projects, through traffic.
- Local licences: the district commissioner (food and drink, events, street stalls, Nuisance Act).
- National: KKF registration, FIN tax number and taxes; the rules are the same everywhere in Suriname.
- Figures: census 2012 (ABS), the latest official count.
Economy and employers
Farming is the base, with coconut as the best-known crop. In September 2023 Pomeroon Caribbean Coconuts and Spices started a coconut project with more than 65,000 palms planned; the first phase covers about 1,250 ha near the Nickerie border. Since February 2024 the Ministry of Agriculture (LVV) has been preparing about 10,000 ha for coconut, fruit, livestock and agritourism. According to the minister, drainage, dams and soil ripening take three to five years. Rice will not be grown there, because discharging farm chemicals near the adjacent nature reserve is prohibited.
Access and infrastructure
The East-West Link runs through the district. The Coppename Bridge (1999) between Jenny and Boskamp connects Coronie with Saramacca. Goods travel by road to Paramaribo or Nieuw Nickerie.
Opportunities for business
- Coconut processing: coconut water, oil, copra, fibre and shells, supplied by the new plantings.
- Supplying the farming projects: earthmoving, maintenance, transport, food and housing for workers.
- Agritourism, which LVV plans in the new farming area.
- Food, fuel and overnight stays for traffic between Paramaribo and Nickerie.
These are possibilities that fit the district economy, not a promise of customers. Test an idea first with conversations and numbers. Writing a business plan
Practical: where to arrange what
Local licences: district commissioner's office Coronie in Totness. KKF registration and tax matters are handled in Paramaribo. Land applications go through the ministry responsible for land policy, with advice from the district commissioner.
The district commissioner's forms, fees and processing times are not published centrally. Check them with the office before you rent or invest. How district government works: Business by district.
Ressorts
Coronie is divided into 3 ressorts:
- Johanna Maria
- Totness
- Welgelegen
Guides that help next
- Start a business
- Business licences
- Buying land and property
- Business financing
- Hiring staff
- Tenders
- Starting an agribusiness
Other districts
- Paramaribo
- Wanica
- Nickerie
- Saramacca
- Commewijne
- Marowijne
- Para
- Brokopondo
- Sipaliwini
- Compare all districts
Sources
- ABS: Definitieve resultaten Census 8, bevolking en oppervlakte per district
- ABS: Census 8 districtsresultaten Nickerie, Coronie, Saramacca, Commewijne en Para (2014)
- Keynews: Coronie en Nickerie bereiden zich voor op investeringen (24 March 2024)
- Keynews: werknemers kokosproject moeten uit Coronie komen (1 October 2023)
- Oost-Westverbinding: route, bruggen en veerdiensten (Wikipedia)
Population and area: ABS (General Bureau of Statistics), Eighth Census 2012 (final results). The ninth census has been carried out, but ABS has not published results yet; the current population is likely different.
Checked on 26 October 2026. General information, not legal advice.