PARAMARIBO, Suriname – Renowned business leader and mentor Sandra Glasgow, has been appointed as the Honorary Consul of the Republic of Suriname in Jamaica.

She received her Certificate of Appointment on Wednesday, January 17, from Suriname’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Business and International Cooperation (BIBIS), Albert Ramdin, in Paramaribo.

In her new role, Glasgow is dedicated to enhancing trade and investment relations between the two nations, while also striving to deepen the understanding and familiarity between the Jamaican and Surinamese communities.

“Despite the distance and language differences between Jamaica and Suriname, our shared Caricom [Caribbean Community] bond and the vibrant spirit of our people are a solid foundation for greater understanding and cooperation. My intention as Honorary Consul is to embrace these opportunities to enrich our trade, investment, and cultural ties,” Glasgow said.

While in Paramaribo, HC Glasgow met with key government officials and members of the private sector. She looks forward to using her expertise to stimulate entrepreneurship through angel investing and business incubation, while helping existing organisations and companies to improve their corporate governance.

“Angel investing is vital for the Caribbean economy as it provides much-needed capital, expertise, and support to early-stage ventures, fostering innovation, job creation, and economic resilience in the region,” Glasgow highlighted.

“Successful angel investments can attract further investment from venture capital firms and other institutional investors, both locally and internationally. This not only injects more capital into the economy but also enhances its reputation as a favourable destination for investment,” Glasgow added.

Suriname, located on the northern coast of South America, is one of the smallest countries in the region, known for its diverse ethnic composition and rich natural resources, particularly bauxite. Formerly a Dutch colony known as Dutch Guiana, Suriname gained independence in 1975. The country has also been exploring and exploiting other resources like gold and oil, which have become significant contributors to its economy.

With an extensive background in business and management, Glasgow brings a wealth of personal qualifications and professional experience to the role. Over the course of more than 30 years, she has developed her competencies in strategic planning, business development and management, project planning and entrepreneurship training. Her education and related work experiences, acquired at renowned institutions in India, Canada and Jamaica, have earned her several awards.

She is the founder and managing director of BizTactics Limited, a consultancy company dedicated to stimulating growth through incubation and mentorship and promoting best-in-class corporate governance.

Glasgow is also a co-founder of FirstAngelsJA, Jamaica’s only active Angel Investor Network and the managing director of RevUP Caribbean Limited, both of which focus on providing access to finance, training, mentoring and coaching of Caribbean start-up companies. Over the years, she has served on many boards of government and private sector organisations and currently serves on the Board of the National Commercial Bank Jamaica Limited, the NCB Financial Group Limited, companies listed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange and start-up companies.

Minister Ramdin indicated that he was pleased with the expertise of Glasgow and shared that he looks forward to her contribution in improving cooperation between Jamaica and Suriname and further development of the relationship, especially in the areas of trade and industry.