Baladna and IFC Formalize Advisory Engagement to Assess the Viability of Syria's Dairy Value Chain

Baladna Food Industries has signed an advisory agreement with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector arm of the World Bank Group, to assess the feasibility of rebuilding and scaling Syria's dairy sector.

The engagement will focus on evaluating ground-level conditions, including milk production capacity, collection logistics, and transport constraints. It will also examine demand, processing requirements, and overall market viability to determine whether sustainable, large-scale dairy production can be restored.

"By grounding potential future investments in practical realities on the ground, we aim to help restore domestic dairy production in a way that supports nutrition, creates jobs, and delivers long-term value," said Mr. Marek Warzywoda, Group CEO of Baladna.
"This engagement reflects our commitment to applying Baladna’s integrated dairy expertise to markets where rebuilding food systems is both urgent and impactful."

Mr. Wagner Albuquerque, IFC Regional Industry Director for Manufacturing, Agribusiness and Services, said the initiative reflects the AgriConnect approach: "building direct, practical links between smallholder farmers, market infrastructure, and private sector investment, so that farmers are active participants in resilient, inclusive value chains."

The advisory work will focus on reintegrating small and medium-sized dairy farmers into structured, commercially viable supply chains. It will be delivered in phases, beginning with analytical and field assessments before advancing toward practical, scalable supply-chain models tailored to Syria's current  conditions.