Established in 1995, Myanmar Awba Group’s core business involves the importation, manufacturing, formulation, reformulation, blending and distribution of Crop Protection Products (CPP or agrochemicals, such as pesticides, fungicides and herbicides), fertilizers (urea and compound fertilizers – Nitrate, Phosphate, Potassium - NPK) and seeds. Active agrochemical ingredients are sourced from generic products in China, India and Thailand as products become off-patent while fertilizers are imported from China, Russia, Germany and South East Asia.

Besides its corporate headquarters located in Yangon, Awba’s operational footprint encompasses 5 modern production sites, namely Piti Pyae Zone (YIP 1, 2, 3) factories covering insecticide and herbicide repacking factories; foliar fertilizer and repacking factory and 4 finished goods warehouses, all located in Yangon Industrial Zone; three fertilizer blending and packaging factories, located in industrial zones named Ngwe Pin Lae, Shwe Lin Pan I and Shwe Lin Pan II, including a company-owned river jetty on Hlaing River and eight (8) warehouses. With the first ever (and still only) privately owned ISO 9001-2008 certified foliar fertilizer formulation and storage repacking plant (YIP) as well as steam granulation compound fertilizer plant and automatic bulk blending plant in Myanmar, and in the process of being certified ISO 14001 by June 2016, Awba is the market leader with innovative products and customized solutions. Awba’s distribution logistics and extension services is composed of a network of 47 company-owned sale depots, around 5,000 exclusive dealers/sub dealers and approximatively 10,000 selected key farmers. A fleet of small trucks (owned) and river barges (third-party contracted), and a specialized workforce of 1,000 agronomists providing continuous technical assistance for responsible use of agro-chemicals and fertilizers to farmers to enhance crop yields (one-stop shop service provider) complete Awba’s operations. Awba’s overall farmer reach is estimated at 3 million smallholders, each cultivating from 1-3 ha, across the country through its Direct-to-Farmer model. The major crop applications are pulse, beans and rice, which are mostly exported to India, and corn, and fruit and vegetable (potatoes, tomatoes, onions) cash crops.

The proposed IFC senior secured loan is up to US$10 million loan with specific use of proceeds for the expansion of Awba’s core business, including the construction of additional fertilizer’ warehouse storage facilities and fertilizer distribution stations, the acquisition of a second chemical license for its Myanma Awba Group’ in order to construct a new agro-chemical formulation plant in an industrial zone next to the existing Government Hmawbi pesticide factory, equipment (bottling and packaging machinery), warehouse storage facilities and working capital.

Mr. Thadoe Hein, the project sponsor, is the founder and Managing Director of Awba. A Myanmar citizen, he established the Company in 1995, together with his parents. He now owns it (95%) together with his wife Ms. Soe Mar Lar (4.5%) and brother-in-law, Mr. Soe Min Thant, (0.5%).

Myanmar Awba Group
Kyaik Wine Pagoda Road, 8th Miles
Mayangone Township, Yangon, The Republic of Union of Myanmar
Tel: (+95-1) 663536, (+95-1) 663399
Fax: (+95-1) 655763

ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISM OF IFC

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