President Santokhi now heading to Miami and Colombia

President Chan Santokhi has concluded his working visit to Aruba and Curaçao but is not returning home yet. The President will continue his trip to Miami and will then travel to the sixteenth Conference of the Parties (COP16), which will be held on October 29 and 30 in Cali, Colombia.
During his working visits to the Dutch territories of Aruba and Curaçao, Santokhi emphasized the need to strengthen historical and cultural ties with the islands and to encourage new collaborations in various fields.
The President will be accompanied at the conference by Ministers Albert Ramdin (Foreign Affairs, International Business, and International Cooperation) and Marciano Dasai (Spatial Planning and Environment).
Minister Ramdin highlighted the importance of the meeting: “Suriname possesses unique biodiversity and plays a crucial role in the Amazon region. Participation in COP16 offers us a platform to raise global awareness about the protection of our natural resources, which is essential for both environmental sustainability and our economic and social development.”
COP16 provides Suriname with the opportunity to place biodiversity prominently on the international agenda. While previous COP meetings focused primarily on climate change, biodiversity will take center stage this time. “The preservation of biodiversity is just as important as the fight against climate change. Without biodiversity, we lose valuable ecosystems that contribute to our food security and economic stability,” Ramdin said.
During the conference, President Santokhi will also hold bilateral talks with other world leaders, including a meeting with Colombian President Gustavo Petro. The discussions will focus on strengthening cooperation between Suriname and Colombia, particularly in the areas of trade, the environment, and security.
First Lady Mellisa Santokhi and part of the presidential delegation returned to Suriname yesterday, according to the Surinamese Communications Service (CDS).