The IDB is actively involved in two South American countries:
Suriname and Guyana. South America is composed of countries which
are former Spanish colonies, except for Brazil, a former Portuguese
colony. Until the 1960s, there were the so-called three Guyanas:
the British Guyana (currently Guyana), the Dutch Guyana (currently
Suriname) and the French Guyana (which is still a French
département).
Suriname has about 600,000 inhabitants and its Muslim population
is approximately 14%. The population of Guyana is approximately
800,000 and among them 7% are Muslims.
The IDB in its eff orts to have a significant presence in all
continents is evaluating the possibility of opening a regional
headquarters in Suriname at a later date. Suriname is making an eff
ort to include itself in the Islamic economy and Trustbank Amanah
will be adapting itself for such an inclusion. Guyana has applied
for a US$20 million financing from the IDB, which has since been
approved, to fund the
