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SURINAME

Since March 2007

Pillar Telecom infrastructure & competition  |  Indicator Functional/accounting separation for operators with significant market power
Lack of mandatory functional separation for dominant network operators
It is reported that Suriname does not mandate functional separation for operators with significant market power (SMP) in the telecom market. However, operators with SMP are obligated to maintain accounting separation under Art. 18 of the Telecommunications Act (Interconnection Decree No. 25).
Coverage Telecommunications sector

SURINAME

Since April 1997

Pillar Telecom infrastructure & competition  |  Indicator Signature of the WTO Telecom Reference Paper
WTO Telecom Reference Paper
Suriname has appended the World Trade Organization (WTO) Telecom Reference Paper to its schedule of commitments.
Coverage Telecommunications sector

SURINAME

Since March 1998

Pillar Telecom infrastructure & competition  |  Indicator Presence of an independent telecom authority
Decision Institution TAS 1998 (BesLuit Instelling TAS 1998)
It is reported that the Telecommunication Authority of Suriname (TAS), the executive authority responsible for the supervision and administration of services in the telecommunications sector, is not entirely independent of the government in its decision-making. Yet, according to Art. 2 of the Decision Institution TAS 1998, its director is appointed by the President on the recommendation of the Minister. Pursuant to Art. 3, the TAS is charged with the preparation, implementation, and control of the tasks assigned to the Minister on telecommunication as an independent authority in the decision-making process.
Coverage Telecommunications sector

SURINAME

N/A

Pillar Cross-border data policies  |  Indicator Participation in trade agreements committing to open cross-border data flows
Lack of participation in agreements with binding commitments on data flows
Suriname has not joined any agreement with binding commitments to open transfers of data across borders.
Coverage Horizontal

SURINAME

N/A

Pillar Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs)  |  Indicator Practical or legal restrictions related to the application process for patents
Lack of legal framework for the application process for patents
It is reported that the Bureau for Intellectual Property of Suriname is working to introduce patent grants and protection in the country. Therefore, it is currently not possible to register a patent in Suriname.
Coverage Horizontal

SURINAME

N/A

Pillar Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs)  |  Indicator Practical or legal restrictions related to the enforcement of patents
Lack of legal framework for the enforcement of patents
It is reported that the Bureau for Intellectual Property of Suriname is working to introduce patent grants and protection. As a result, it is currently not possible to obtain patent protection in Suriname.
Coverage Horizontal

SURINAME

N/A

Pillar Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs)  |  Indicator Participation in the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT)
Lack of signature of the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT)
Suriname is not a party to the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT).
Coverage Horizontal

SURINAME

Since March 1913, last amended in March 2015

Pillar Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs)  |  Indicator Copyright law with clear exceptions
Copyright Law 1913 (van de Wet Auteursrecht 1913)
Suriname has a copyright regime under the law Copyright Law 1913. However, the exceptions do not follow the fair use or fair dealing model, therefore limiting the lawful use of copyrighted work by others. Arts. 15bis-17 lists the exceptions, which include the use of a work if the author is mentioned in the source from which the quotation is taken; the inclusion, representation, and public communication of limited parts of a work in a photographic, cinematographic or radio report; among others.
Coverage Horizontal

SURINAME

Reported in 2022, last reported in 2025

Pillar Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs)  |  Indicator Enforcement of copyright online
Lack of adequate enforcement of copyright
It is reported that, although the National Assembly adopted amendments to the Music Copyright Law of 1913 in March 2015, these reforms have not been effectively enforced. As a result, infringements remain relatively common, reflecting limited enforcement capacity.
Coverage Horizontal
"SELECT DISTINCT(post_id) FROM prj_12_postmeta WHERE meta_key = 'score' AND\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id IN (SELECT post_id FROM prj_12_postmeta WHERE meta_key = 'country' AND meta_value = 'SR')\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAND (\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id IN (SELECT post_id FROM prj_12_postmeta WHERE meta_key = 'subchapter' AND meta_value = '1.1') OR\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id IN (SELECT post_id FROM prj_12_postmeta WHERE meta_key = 'subchapter' AND meta_value = '1.2') OR\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id IN (SELECT post_id FROM prj_12_postmeta WHERE meta_key = 'subchapter' AND meta_value = '1.3')\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t)"
[{"post_id":"96895"},{"post_id":"96896"},{"post_id":"96897"}]
"SELECT meta_value FROM prj_12_postmeta WHERE meta_key = 'impact' AND\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id IN (SELECT post_id FROM prj_12_postmeta WHERE meta_key = 'country' AND meta_value = 'SR')\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAND (\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id IN (SELECT post_id FROM prj_12_postmeta WHERE meta_key = 'subchapter' AND meta_value = '1.1') OR\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id IN (SELECT post_id FROM prj_12_postmeta WHERE meta_key = 'subchapter' AND meta_value = '1.2')\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t)"
"SELECT meta_value FROM prj_12_postmeta WHERE meta_key = 'score' AND\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id IN (SELECT post_id FROM prj_12_postmeta WHERE meta_key = 'country' AND meta_value = 'SR')\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAND (\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id IN (SELECT post_id FROM prj_12_postmeta WHERE meta_key = 'subchapter' AND meta_value = '1.3')\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t)"
ITA: [{"meta_value":"1.00"}]

SURINAME

ITA signatory? I II

Pillar Tariffs and trade defence measures applied on ICT goods  |  Indicator Effective tariff rate on ICT goods (applied weighted average)
Effective tariff rate to ICT goods (applied weighted average)
7.27%
Coverage rate of zero-tariffs on ICT goods (%)
12.07%
Coverage: ICT goods

SURINAME

N/A

Pillar Tariffs and trade defence measures applied on ICT goods  |  Indicator Participation in the WTO Information Technology Agreement (ITA) and 2015 expansion (ITA II)
Lack of participation in the Information Technology Agreement (ITA) and in ITA Expansion Agreement (ITA II)
Suriname is not a signatory of the 1996 World Trade Organization (WTO) Information Technology Agreement (ITA) nor the 2015 expansion (ITA II).
Coverage ICT goods

SURINAME

Reported in 2017, last reported in 2025

Pillar Public procurement of ICT goods and online services  |  Indicator Other limitations on foreign participation in public procurement
Lack of transparency in public procurement
Although the Government enacted a Public Procurement Act in 2024 to increase transparency and efficiency in public tendering, Suriname has reportedly lacked transparency in its public procurement processes.
Coverage Horizontal

SURINAME

N/A

Pillar Public procurement of ICT goods and online services  |  Indicator Signatory of the WTO Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA) with coverage of the most relevant services sectors (CPC 752, 754, 84)
Lack of participation in the WTO Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA)
Suriname is not a party to the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA), nor does it have observer status.
Coverage Horizontal

SURINAME

Since June 2002

Pillar Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in sectors relevant to digital trade  |  Indicator Maximum foreign equity share
Investment Law 2001 (Investeringswet 2001)
Suriname does not implement any limits on foreign investment.
Coverage Horizontal

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