By : Bakinam Khaled 

The National Bank of Egypt and Danone Egypt have renewed their partnership with the launch of the second phase of the OMDA project, supporting micro-distributors of dairy products across villages and rural areas throughout Egypt and contributing to greater efficiency across the sector’s supply chain.

Building on the success of its first phase, OMDA’s second phase will expand the project’s support for micro-distributors, contributing to sustainable economic growth and the continued development of Egypt’s dairy industry. The first phase of OMDA delivered strong results, directly benefiting more than 400 micro-distributors, 50% of whom received financing through the National Bank of Egypt. The project also contributed to creating job opportunities, while beneficiaries earned an average income of approximately three times the minimum wage.

Following the signing, Mr. Nader Saad, Head of SMEs and Executive Business Sector at the National Bank of Egypt, said: “The Bank remains committed to playing an active role in supporting SMEs and entrepreneurs by providing financial solutions, banking services and non-financial support tailored to the needs of different segments and sectors. Our partnership with Danone Egypt is a model of collaboration that aims to create meaningful development impact by supporting value and supply chains and empowering micro-distributors to develop their businesses and improve their productivity, scalability and sustainability.”

He added: “Through this protocol, the National Bank of Egypt looks forward to expanding the number of beneficiaries, while providing further financial and non-financial solutions, digital services and capacity-building programs, in line with the Bank’s strategy to advance financial inclusion, empower businesses and support sustainable economic and social development.”

Mr. Hesham Radwan, General Manager of Danone Egypt, commented: “We are proud to renew our partnership with the National Bank of Egypt to launch the second phase of OMDA, a project I have had the privilege of being part of since the cooperation protocol was signed in 2018. The first phase succeeded in establishing a sustainable model that creates economic value for both the company and the community by creating sustainable job opportunities that generate income for beneficiaries, while empowering entrepreneurs to develop and grow their businesses.”

Mr. Radwan added: “As we move into OMDA’s second phase, we look forward to building on what we have achieved by expanding the project and reaching new beneficiaries across Egypt. This supports our efforts at Danone Egypt to continue our mission of bringing health through food to as many people as possible and making healthy food choices accessible to all, in line with the country’s food security objectives. We are pleased to continue our collaboration with the National Bank of Egypt, whose financial support and range of services play an essential role in empowering micro-distributors and entrepreneurs.”

The partnership brings together the expertise of both organizations. Danone Egypt provides technical support and training to help project participants develop their skills and better understand market needs, while the National Bank of Egypt provides financing to young entrepreneurs benefiting from OMDA to purchase equipped trucks. This enables them to distribute Danone Egypt's dairy products reaching more rural areas across Egypt.

The protocol reaffirms the commitment of Danone Egypt and the National Bank of Egypt to continue working together to support the growth of Egypt’s dairy sector through partnerships that strengthen the capabilities of those working within whilst creating and driving growth and expansion opportunities.