Olam secures US$93.75 Million medium-term loan from ADB to support smallholder farmers

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Olam secures US$93.75 Million medium-term loan from ADB to support smallholder farmers

Leading global food and agri-business Olam International Limited announced today that it has secured medium-term financing aggregating US$93.75 million from the Asian Development Bank. The 3-year term Facility has Olam Treasury Pte Ltd as a co-borrower and is guaranteed by Olam. 

This Facility will provide working capital for the procurement of agri-commodities from smallholder farmers in Vietnam, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea (PNG), bolstering Olam’s continued support to farmers and communities in vulnerable countries. Olam plays an important role in providing essential food staples, food ingredients, feed and fibre to customers around the world in a safe, responsible and sustainable way.

Olam secures US$93.75 Million medium-term loan from ADB to support smallholder farmers

Olam’s Managing Director and Group CFO N. Muthukumar, said:

“At Olam, we believe it is important to continue to support smallholder farming communities in the various countries that we operate. Covid-19 has disproportionately impacted livelihoods in emerging markets and this special financing arrangement is aligned with Olam’s Purpose outcomes of ensuring prosperous farmers and thriving communities, as well as ADB’s mandate of achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific.”

ADB Deputy Director-General for Private Sector Operations Department Christopher Thieme, said:

“Smallholder farmers across the region are acutely vulnerable to worsening poverty as their incomes were below average even before the pandemic. Local market closures and declining demand from small traders during Covid-19 has reduced the earnings of smallholder farmers and increased food wastage. ADB will support the livelihoods of these farmers by providing financing to Olam, which procures directly from smallholder farmers.” 

Olam International is a leading food and agri-business supplying food, ingredients, feed and fibre to 25,200 customers worldwide. Our value chain spans over 60 countries and includes farming, processing and distribution operations, as well as a sourcing network of an estimated 5 million farmers.