The engagement is expected to be phased, beginning with analytical and field-based assessments and advancing, where feasible, toward practical supply-chain models suited to Syria’s current context.
Qatar’s Baladna Food Industries and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), have entered into an advisory agreement to support the recovery of Syria’s dairy sector, according to a statement posted on Qatar Stock Exchange on Monday.
Through this agreement, the IFC, the private sector arm of the World Bank Group, will work with Baladna, the Qatari food and dairy producer, to understand conditions on the ground.
That includes how much milk can be produced, how it can be collected, including transport challenges.
Marek Warzywoda, Group CEO of Baladna explained that the work will look to see if a sustainable dairy sector can be rebuilt on a large scale by assessing demand, processing needs and market conditions
“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 Warzywoda.
Syria remains one of the most food-insecure countries globally, with a total of 9.1 million people being food insecure, according to the World Food Programme.
Years of conflict severely disrupted domestic food production and smallholder farming systems.
Dairy, an essential source of nutrition and income, has been particularly affected.
The advisory engagement between Baladna and IFC aims to address these challenges by examining how small and medium-sized dairy farmers can be reintegrated into structured, commercially viable supply chains.
The engagement is expected to be phased, beginning with analytical and field-based assessments advancing toward practical supply-chain models suited to Syria’s current context, according to the statement posted on QSE.
Wagner Albuquerque, IFC Regional Industry Director, Manufacturing, Agribusiness and Services said the advisory work shows how Baladna approaches food security projects, focusing on long-term results even in difficult markets.
“This partnership is a great example of what we mean by AgriConnect — building direct, practical links between smallholder farmers, market infrastructure, and private sector investment, so that farmers are active participants in resilient, inclusive value chains,” said Albuquerque.
In 2025, Baladna has secured unanimous approval from its board of directors to proceed forward with an “integrated industrial project” in Syria worth more than QAR 911 million (about $250 million).
The plan is to establish an integrated industrial project that includes a dairy plant, a juice processing facility, a plastic packaging unit, and an advanced water treatment plant.
Baladna becomes the latest Qatari firm — both public and private — to extend its investment in Syria after the fall of Bashar Al-Assad’s regime in December.
Investments and cooperation in fields of media broadcasting, public services, satellite services, aviation and energy have materialised between entities of the two countries.