IFC Backs Sri Lanka’s Poultry Sector with $10 Million Injection

The funding package, which includes $5 million from the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program, will allow the firm to modernize its supply chain and widen its retail footprint. Beyond internal growth, the project targets a significant socio-economic footprint by creating 900 jobs and integrating 200 smallholder farmers into the company’s outgrower network. Nearly a quarter of these farmers are expected to be women, with a primary focus on low-income households that currently contribute 40 percent of the company's output.

NAF, which dominated 90 percent of Sri Lanka’s poultry exports in 2024, plans to leverage this capital to drive a 29 percent increase in export volume. By reaching an annual output of 1,936 metric tonnes of poultry for international markets, the company anticipates generating $4.95 million in foreign exchange earnings annually. CEO Neil Suraweera noted the partnership serves as a catalyst for lifting operational standards and governance, while IFC’s Carsten Mueller highlighted the initiative as a core element of the World Bank Group’s strategy to foster private sector-led resilience within the national agricultural economy.