The Central Bank of Suriname joined the OECD as a regular member of the OECD International Network on Financial Education (INFE) in January 2013.

This membership is important for the Central Bank especially because we want to support the financial literacy of Suriname’s society. The Central Bank of Suriname strongly believes that a financial literate population will impact all aspects of society in a favourable manner, which will lift the social wellbeing and thus impact the overall social-economic development. The OECD has gained extensive knowledge and experience over the years in several countries, which will be helpful for the local implementation of financial education programs.

One of the first highlights in this regard was the hosting of the IV Conference on Economic and Financial Education on December 6th and 7th 2012 in Paramaribo, in cooperation with the Center for Latin American Monetary Studies (CEMLA) and OECD.

Moreover, the Central Bank of Suriname is already in the process of developing a financial literacy-training program for several target groups. We work with the supply side of financial products as well as with the demand side, or consumers.

Training for the supply side, or servicers:

• We are setting up a project “Suriname Financial Campus” in cooperation with Welten (A Dutch based company) with a basic curriculum in financial services for employees in the financial sector
• Training for the demand side, or consumers:
• The general public
• Youth and children
• Women
• Small and Medium Scale Entrepreneurs
• Journalists
• Public sector managers