Institutional weaknesses, including difficulties in reforming a structurally inefficient, public sector-dominated economy An open and narrow-based economy exposed to adverse external developments, especially commodity price fluctuations A concentrated effort to improve debt management, as the clearance of bilateral arrears in 2011 and an improving debt profile demonstrate Favorable medium-term economic prospects stemming from strong foreign-investor interest in Suriname's main economic sectors Standard&Poor's Ratings Services' ratings on the Republic of Suriname reflect its improving macroeconomic fundamentals, robust medium-term growth prospects, low debt position (with net general government debt at less than 20% of GDP at the end of 2012), and solid external indicators based on current account surpluses, higher foreign direct investment (FDI), and rising international reserves. Moreover, political
