Doing business in Saramacca
Saramacca, west of Paramaribo and Wanica, is the onshore oil district: Staatsolie's three onshore oil fields are here. The capital is Groningen. In 2012 it had 17,480 inhabitants, most of them in the Jarikaba and Tijgerkreek ressorts.
On this page (8)
- Economy: Onshore oil (Staatsolie), bananas, farming.
- 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
Staatsolie produces crude oil in the Tambaredjo, Calcutta and Tambaredjo North-West fields. The oil, sold as Saramacca Crude, goes through a 55 km pipeline to the refinery at Tout Lui Faut (Wanica). Jarikaba is home to the banana plantation of FAI (Food and Agriculture Industries), the country's only banana company: by 2025 it had replanted 100 ha with another 100 ha planned. FAI exports mainly to Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados and Guyana. There is also farming for the Paramaribo market.
Access and infrastructure
The East-West Link runs through the district, with the Saramacca River bridge between Hamburg and Uitkijk (2011) and the Coppename Bridge (1999) to Coronie.
Opportunities for business
- Services for the oil fields: maintenance, transport, catering, cleaning, security. Register as a supplier with Staatsolie.
- Supplying banana growing: packaging, transport to the port, irrigation maintenance.
- Vegetables, fruit and processed products for Paramaribo and Wanica.
- Food and services along the East-West Link.
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 Saramacca in Groningen. KKF registration and tax matters are handled in Paramaribo.
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
Saramacca is divided into 6 ressorts:
- Calcutta
- Groningen
- Jarikaba
- Kampong Baroe
- Tijgerkreek
- Wayamboweg
Guides that help next
- Start a business
- Business licences
- Buying land and property
- Business financing
- Hiring staff
- Tenders
- Oil and gas: GranMorgu
- Become an oil and gas supplier
- Starting an agribusiness
- Exporting from Suriname
Other districts
- Paramaribo
- Wanica
- Nickerie
- Coronie
- 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)
- Staatsolie: Saramacca Crude
- Staatsolie: onze activiteiten (olievelden, raffinaderij)
- FreshPlaza: Surinaamse bananenexport, FAI in Jarikaba en Nickerie (13 October 2025)
- 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.