Daaboul Company for Chemicals & Petrochemicals Industres

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The project consists of the construction and operation of a 40,000 mt/year linear alkyl benzene (LAB) plant and the necessary infrastructure outside of Damascus, Syria. Construction of the project has started in June 2001 and is progressing well. LAB is the major feedstock required to produce all kinds of detergents, from liquid soap to dishwasher powder. The venture is an intermediate step towards backward integration of Mr. Daaboul''s detergent operations and will allow Daaboul Detergents to rely on in-house produced LAB instead of depending on supplies from abroad. It will be implemented as a greenfield project and will be incorporated as ''Daaboul Company for Chemicals & Petrochemicals Industries''. The venture will have a number of positive development impacts. The project is competitive locally and within the region, and will generate jobs and increase revenue through taxes. It will aslo support an entrepreneurial and competitive local private sector group of the sort that will be vital if Syria’s more liberal approach to private sector led economic development is to succeed. In addition, as one of IFC’s first financings in the Syrian market, the project will have a positive demonstration impact for local and foreign investors.IFC''s environmental and technical input will be crucial to smoothen the project''s implementation and make the daily operations safe. With this investment, IFC demonstrates its commitment to support local entrepreneurs and to help improve the long-term competitiveness of a family-owned business.