IFC Helps Bolster Food Security, Diversify the Economy in Iraq

Baghdad, Iraq, December 13, 2023— IFC is supporting Sama Al-Manar and Manar FZCO, subsidiaries of Türkiye-based Tiryaki Agro, in developing a new state-of-the-art agro-industrial complex in Iraq's Umm Qasr Port, including a soybean crushing plant and warehouses, which will help bolster food security, create jobs, and diversify the country’s economy away from fossil fuels. 

As a lead arranger, IFC will deliver a debt financing package of $112.5 million to Sama Al-Manar and Manar FZCO as co-borrowers, which includes a loan of up to $66 million from its own account as well as mobilizing up to $31.5 million from FMO, the Dutch Entrepreneurial Development Bank, and up to $15 million from Proparco, a subsidiary of the Agence Française de Développement Group.

Sama Al-Manar currently imports and sells corn and soybean meal—the main ingredients for animal feed. 

The new facility will enable the company to more than double its imports of corn by 2027 and import raw soybeans for processing for the first time. Sama Al-Manar will process raw soybeans, producing both soybean meal for domestic animal feed, and soybean oil, which is set to become one of the country’s largest non-oil exports. The increased local production of animal feed at competitive prices will also help bolster the development of Iraq’s poultry sector.

Süleyman Tiryakioğlu, CEO of Tiryaki Agro, said: "We are building a soy crushing plant and corn warehouses in Tiryaki Group’s exclusive berth in the Umm-Qasr port of Iraq. The warehouses, whichare part of the investment, have been completed and the soy crushing operations will begin in early 2024. With a daily crushing capacity of 3 thousand tons, the soy crushing plant is expected to generate more than 700 million dollars of revenue annually, half of which will be generated through exports."

Bram Reijnen, Manager Agribusiness, Water, and Food at FMO, said: “We are pleased to be investing in the revitalization of Iraq’s private sector via our long-term partner Tiryaki’s subsidiary, Sama-al Manar. Through this investment, we are able to support the value-add within Iraq and local decent job creation. Investing effectively in states recovering from conflict and political instability traditionally comes with risks that are perceived as ‘too high’ by many institutional investors; we are grateful to our trusted partner IFC for leading this transaction as we jointly contribute to a viableand diversified private sector in Iraq.”

Claire Fillatre, Head of Agribusiness Corporate Financing Team at Proparco, added:“Having supported Tiryaki for many years, we are delighted to partner with IFC and FMO on this new phase of the group’s expansion, which will allow the group to vertically integrate its existing agri-food business in Iraq. The anticipated impacts hold significant importance for this fragile and conflict-affected country: enhanced food security by reducing dependency on imports and ensuring access to feed for local farmers, greater economic diversification and generation of job opportunities.”

"Manufacturing and agri-business drive job creation and foster economic growth. This South-South investment will not only be instrumental in enhancing Iraq’s food security and promoting economic diversification but will also result in a substantial contribution to the country’s total exports," said Ashruf Megahed, IFC’s Regional Industry Head, Manufacturing, Agribusiness & Services for Middle East, Central Asia, Türkiye, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

In Iraq, IFC has committed over $1.2 billion since 2005 to support its private sector and has a current committed portfolio of about $188 million in sectors such as energy, telecoms, and banking. Recent investments have aimed at helping the country reduce gas flaring and associated greenhouse gas emissions, and modernizing Umm Qasr, the country’s largest port, to boost trade. IFC also signed an agreement in September to help develop the country’s first airport public-private partnership project to modernize Baghdad International Airport.

In Türkiye, IFC has supported private sector development for more than 50 years, with investments of nearly $11 billion in the last decade alone and a committed portfolio of close to $5 billion. IFC has also been a driving force in assisting Turkish enterprises to expand their global footprint in various emerging markets, with a cumulative commitment exceeding $150 million over the past decade. Notable examples include support to Arçelik, a major Turkish white goods manufacturer, for their ventures and investments in Bangladesh and assisting Türkiye Şişeve Cam Fabrikaları, a global glass producer, with their operations in Egypt.

About IFCIFC — a member of the World Bank Group — is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. We work in more than 100 countries, using our capital, expertise, and influence to create markets and opportunities in developing countries. In fiscal year 2023, IFC committed a record $43.7 billion to private companies and financial institutions in developing countries, leveraging the power of the private sector to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity as economies grapple with the impacts of global compounding crises. For more information, visit www.ifc.org

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