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From cashews to cash, from Nigeria to the world  Working in a rural Nigerian Village for three and a half years, Sunny Verghese had laid the foundations for what would be a thriving business. Three years after, he was exporting not just cashews, but cotton, cocoa and peanuts as well. "In the late '80s when the World Bank and IMF were persuading countries like Nigeria to deregulate their commodity monopolies, we saw an opportunity to get into the business," he shares in an interview for DBS Dialogues - DBS Bank's newest website that features latest SME news and events, along with exclusive interviews with Asia's leading entrepreneurs. Sunny's plan was to become the bridge between developing countries where commodities are grown, and developed countries where they are consumed. “We started our relationship with DBS in 1991, and the relationship continued when we relocated to Singapore. As we continued to grow, so did our relationship with DBS.” During the 90's, many state agricultural monopolies in developing countries were dismantled by deregulation. OLAM seized the opportunity, set up a network, and grew the business exponentially.OLAM's indomitable network and replicable and scalable model for exporting goods catapulted the business across the globe—and today, it supplies 14 products to 4,000 customers in 60 countries worldwide. DBS was there every step of the way. "We started our relationship with DBS in 1991, and the relationship continued when we relocated to Singapore. As we continued to grow, so did our relationship with DBS. In 2001, we decided to raise private equity, so we went to DBS who introduced us to AIF Capital." Going forward, Sunny plans to expand even further in the next two to three years. With a tested business strategy and a partner like DBS, there's no stopping this man and his company from becoming a byword for success. Find out more about Sunny Verghese's story at DBS Dialogues, a specialised website designed to engage and inspire business owners in Singapore and across Asia. In addition, check out DBS' in-depth reports and videos on valuable consumer and business insights at "www.dbsdialogues.com/plugged_in.asp" in January 2010. About DBS DBS is the largest bank in Singapore, a leading bank in Hong Kong and is one of the largest financial services groups in Asia. Headquartered in Singapore, DBS has operations in 16 markets and is a well-capitalised bank with "AA-" and "Aa1" credit ratings, one of the highest in the Asia Pacific region. As a bank that specialises in Asia, DBS leverages its insights, deep understanding of the region and appreciation of local cultures to serve and build lasting relationships with its clients. DBS provides a full range of services in corporate, SME, consumer and wholesale banking activities across Asia and the Middle East. DBS will leverage its growing presence in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan to intermediate the increasing trade and investment flows in the Greater China region. The bank is also focused on extending its footprint and facilitating capital flows in fast-growing Indonesia and India. DBS acknowledges the passion, commitment and can-do spirit in each of its 14,000 staff, representing over 30 nationalities. ### Other Releases by this Member
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