SDB bank and Australia’s Market Development Facility (MDF) Partner to Strengthen Coconut, Coffee and Mango Value Chains

24-June-2025

SDB bank, with its consistent focus on fueling the national development by nurturing entrepreneurship, recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Australian Government-funded Market Development Facility (MDF) to strengthen its ongoing Value Chain Financing efforts. This strategic partnership will focus on uplifting the coconut, coffee, and mango sectors by addressing critical funding and development gaps across their respective value chains.

The MoU was signed in the presence of senior leadership from both organizations, including SDB bank’s Executive Director/CEO Mr. Kapila Ariyaratne and MDF’s Sri Lanka Country Director Ms. Maryam Piracha.

Commenting on the partnership, Mr. Kapila Ariyaratne, Executive Director/CEO of SDB bank, “As a Bank with a clear focus on contributing towards the development & prosperity of Sri Lanka, we view it as both a responsibility and an opportunity to support inclusive economic growth. Agriculture remains a vital pillar of the economy, and our Value Chain Funding program is designed to strengthen the entire ecosystem—not just through capital, but through strategic partnerships like this. We are confident that this collaboration with MDF will yield meaningful results at the grassroots level and contribute positively to the national economy.”

Under this collaboration, SDB bank and MDF will work closely to provide co-investment opportunities for sector stakeholders, extend technical advisory services to improve production and value addition, facilitate market entry and product testing for emerging businesses, and offer market intelligence while connecting producers to broader commercial networks. This comprehensive approach is aimed at empowering smallholder farmers, processors, and agri-entrepreneurs, while enhancing sector resilience and competitiveness.

Ms. Maryam Piracha, Country Director of MDF stated “With rising global demand, Sri Lanka's specialty coffee, mango and coconut sectors are well-positioned for growth. Strategic investment and strong local partnerships can transform these industries into high-value export drivers, creating real return for businesses and long-term benefits for communities. MDF believes that this partnership with SDB bank solidifies our commitment and vision to seeing Sri Lanka’s agriculture sector reach bolder heights

Value chains represent the full journey of a product - from cultivation and harvesting to processing, marketing, and distribution. In Sri Lanka’s agriculture sector, many actors across this chain lack access to capital, expertise, and market pathways. Through its Value Chain Funding initiative, SDB bank seeks to close these gaps and create more inclusive, sustainable growth across rural economies.

MDF, which has already built strong relationships with key stakeholders in the coconut, coffee, and mango sectors, is engaging with a banking partner in Sri Lanka for the first time through this MoU - marking a significant step toward integrating financial solutions with market development efforts.

SDB bank encourages all relevant government agencies, development partners, and private stakeholders to actively engage with this program and contribute to building a more resilient and inclusive Agri-economy for the nation.

About SDB bank:

A future-ready bank, dedicated to offering customer-centric and comprehensive support tailored to each individual's needs, SDB bank is a licensed specialized bank regulated by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, with a listing on the Main Board of the Colombo Stock Exchange and a Fitch Rating of BB +(lka). Through the network of 94 branches island-wide, the bank provides a comprehensive range of financial services to its Retail, SME, Co-operative, and Business Banking clients across the country. Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles are deeply ingrained in SDB bank's ethos, with a steadfast focus on uplifting local communities and businesses through sustainable practices. The bank is particularly committed to promoting women's empowerment, sustainable development of SMEs, and digital inclusion, aiming to propel Sri Lanka to new height