On Thursday, March 26, 2026, in Conakry, the official signing of a $20 million financing agreement took place. The agreement was signed between SONOCO Group and the International Finance Corporation (IFC).

Guinea is taking a decisive step in its quest for food sovereignty. The approved financing is intended to support, through FERMAV Industries — a subsidiary of SONOCO Group — the establishment of the country's first integrated poultry sector. The FERMAV Industries project aims to correct this structural dependence by developing a complete value chain, integrating poultry feed production, hatcheries, breeding, slaughtering, processing, and distribution.

Ultimately, the unit aims for a production capacity of 15 million broiler chickens per year. It is also expected to generate nearly 400 direct jobs and approximately 3,500 indirect jobs, thereby contributing to boosting several segments of the economy, particularly livestock farming, logistics, and distribution.

The signing ceremony, held at the SONOCO Trade Center, brought together several high-level personalities, including the Minister of Livestock, Félix Lamah, the Ministry's Secretary General, Halimatou Sirandou Diallo, as well as Moriba Mara, Advisor for agricultural and infrastructure matters, representing the Minister of Agriculture.

On the IFC side, CEO Makhtar Diop was present alongside the Vice President for the Africa region and several institution officials, including Zeina Mouawad, Agribusiness Manager for the region.