Doing business in Wanica
Wanica lies between Paramaribo and Para and is the country's fastest-growing residential area: between 2004 and 2012 its population grew 37.5% to 118,222. The capital is Lelydorp. Together with Paramaribo it is home to two thirds of Suriname's people.
On this page (8)
- Economy: Suburbs and retail, oil refinery, power plant, horticulture.
- 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
Wanica combines housing, trade and industry. Tout Lui Faut is home to Staatsolie's refinery (15,000 barrels a day), which receives crude from Saramacca through a 55 km pipeline. Staatsolie subsidiary SPCS runs a thermal power plant there (96 MW) that supplies EBS. Along the main roads, for example in Kwatta and Lelydorp, shops, building supply stores and service firms grow with the new housing estates. The rural ressorts also have farming and horticulture.
Access and infrastructure
Indira Gandhiweg runs from Paramaribo via Lelydorp to the airport at Zanderij. Tout Lui Faut lies on the Suriname River. Wanica is on the EBS power grid of Greater Paramaribo.
Opportunities for business
- Shops and services in growing neighbourhoods: supermarket, pharmacy, childcare, hairdresser, building materials.
- Supply and maintenance for industry around Tout Lui Faut, through Staatsolie's supplier registration.
- Storage and distribution between the city, the airport and the west of the country.
- Fresh vegetables and fruit for the markets and supermarkets of Greater Paramaribo.
- Construction, installation and maintenance for new homes.
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
Since 29 August 2025 (Wanica Ressort Division Decree 2025, S.B. 2025 no. 111) Wanica has three administrative areas, each with its own district commissioner: Centre (Lelydorp and De Nieuwe Grond), South-East (Houttuin and Domburg) and North-West (Kwatta, Koewarasan and Saramacca Polder). Apply for local licences at the commissioner's office of the area where your business is. 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
Wanica is divided into 7 ressorts:
- De Nieuwe Grond
- Domburg
- Houttuin
- Koewarasan
- Kwatta
- Lelydorp
- Saramacca Polder
Guides that help next
- Start a business
- Business licences
- Buying land and property
- Business financing
- Hiring staff
- Tenders
- Become an oil and gas supplier
- Oil and gas: GranMorgu
- Starting an agribusiness
Other districts
- Paramaribo
- Nickerie
- Coronie
- Saramacca
- Commewijne
- Marowijne
- Para
- Brokopondo
- Sipaliwini
- Compare all districts
Sources
- ABS: Definitieve resultaten Census 8, bevolking en oppervlakte per district
- ABS: Census 8 districtsresultaten Paramaribo en Wanica (2014)
- Staatsolie: onze activiteiten (olievelden, raffinaderij)
- Staatsolie: SPCS (Tout Lui Faut en Afobaka)
- Besluit Ressortenindeling Wanica 2025, S.B. 2025 no. 111
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.