Speakers
Mr. Sanjeev Chopra joined Indian Administrative Service in the year 1990. He has experience of over 33 years in different positions in State and Central Government. He is currently Secretary, Department of Food & Public Distribution (DFPD) Government of India, from 31st October, 2022. As Secretary (DFPD), he deal with matters relating to foodgrain management in the country for the central pool stocks including procurement, storage and movement of wheat, rice & coarse grain for its further distribution through network of Public Distribution System Outlets. He also deals with policy formulation for the sugar and edible oil industry in the country. Administration of National Food Security Act, 2013 is one of the major responsibilities. In the past, he has served as Agriculture Production Commissioner and Secretary of Departments such as Home, Industries, General Administration and Agriculture in the State Government of Odisha. He has a rich experience of servicing in State PSUs such as Odisha Mining Corporation, Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation and Industrial Promotion and Investment Corporation. Mr. Chopra also served as Joint Director in LBSNAA, Mussoorie where he was closely involved with the design and delivery of mid-career training programme for IAS officers. Mr. Chopra holds an M.Sc. in Urban Planning from London School of Economics, MBA from FMS, Delhi University and B.Com (H) from Shri Ram College of Commerce. He has been recipient of National e-Governance Award for Excellence in Government Process Re-engineering for Digital Transformation given by Government of India in the years 2020 and 2021.
Shri. Amitabh Kant is India’s G20 Sherpa. In this capacity, he has assisted Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in steering the G20 as the G20 President through many impactful initiatives for international cooperation in diverse fields, culminating in the historic and spectacular G20 Summit in Delhi in September 2023.An illustrious member of the Indian Administrative Service, Shri Kant headed the NITI Ayog, India’s policy think tank, as its CEO from 2016 to 2022. He also headed the National Mission for Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, and from 2014 to 2016, he initiated Startup India and Make in India programmes, which changed the entrepreneurial ecosystem. He is a recipient of “The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold, and Silver Star Award from the Japanese Government. He has received numerous recognitions, viz., the Economic Times Policy Change Agent of the Year Award, Bloomberg TV Personality of the Year Award, NDTV Administrator of the Year Award, Distinguished Fellowship of the Institute of Directors, One Globe Award-2016 for leadership in Transforming Governance for the 21st Century, and the Sir Edmund Hillary Fellowship awarded by the Prime Minister of New Zealand. AND India Today’s High and Mighty Rankings of 2019 featured Shri Kant as one of the most powerful people in India under the category of “The Supercrats – India’s Top Bureaucrats”. Shri Kant has excelled in academics, having passed through the portals of St. Stephens College, Delhi, and JNU. Kant is a prolific author, having authored many books, viz Branding India: An Incredible Story.
Shri Anoop Kumar is the Additional Chief Secretary for the Department of Cooperation and Agricultural Marketing. Hailing from the esteemed 1990 batch of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), his career boasts decades of shaping policies and steering crucial departments. His expertise is multifaceted. He has served as Principal Secretary for Animal Husbandry, Dairy and Fisheries, demonstrating his commitment to Maharashtra’s agricultural sector. His leadership extends beyond departments, as he championed the Vasantrao Naik Shetkari Sahayya Mission, a vital initiative tackling agricultural challenges in the Vidarbha region. This dedication to agricultural well-being highlights his deep understanding of the state’s rural landscape. Beyond this, Shri Kumar’s experience encompasses a stint as Executive Director at the Food Corporation of India Headquarters in New Delhi. This national exposure further broadened his perspective on food security and agricultural management. Shri Anoop Kumar’s illustrious career positions him as a key figure in Maharashtra’s agricultural development. His vast knowledge and administrative acumen make him a valuable asset, not just for the Department of Cooperation and Agricultural Marketing, but for the entire state’s agricultural future.
Mr. Anup Kumar is Managing Director of Sucden India. In this role, since 2019, he and the team has been instrumental in making Sucden the merchant of choice for sugar mills, industrial users, and public distribution networks across India. Globally, Sucden, works to develop deep understanding of the crop development, impact of government policies, changing weather patterns to build a view of the evolving market. Prior to joining Sucden, Anup spent over two decades with Olam International Singapore in different roles, the last of which was as the head of their white sugar trading team. A voracious reader and an eager traveller, Anup is a Chemical Engineer from IIT Benares and an alumnus of IIM Calcutta.
Shri Ashwini Srivastava has extensive experience in operations, logistics, supply chain management, terminal management, business development, and railway administration. He has held key leadership positions in Indian Railways. He successfully managed the transportation of oxygen tankers and essential items during the COVID pandemic and played a pivotal role in the planning and operation of India’s first corporate train, the Tejas Express, operated by IRCTC. He attended a Technology Exchange Session for the dedicated freight corridor in Tokyo, Japan, in 2007. Currently, he is the Joint Secretary (Sugar) in the Department of Food and Public Distribution (DFPD), responsible for policy matters related to the sugar sector, including monitoring production and prices, implementing schemes, and formulating policies for ethanol production capacities.
Mr. Atul Chaturvedi is a veteran in the Agro Business of the Country. He has more than four decades of successful and varied general and strategic management experience in the field of Manufacturing, Trading and Agri Infrastructure Development. He has been associated with Adani Group since 1998 in key positions and has played a key role in the development of the Agro and Agri Infrastructure business of the Group. He is currently Executive Chairman Of Renuka Sugars Ltd as well as Senior Advisory Of Adani Wilmar. These Companies where he is associated are market leaders in their category and have done pioneering work. He is the Advisor of the Solvent Extractors Association, which he previously headed with distinction and is Chairman of the Asian Palm Oil Alliance A widely travelled International Trader, he has hands on experience in handling Agro Products, Vegetable Oils, Grains, Sugar, Ethanol Distilleries, Oilseeds, Apples, Agri Infrastructure etc. both within and outside India. Mr. Chaturvedi has received many awards/recognitions over the years, like Best Analyst award from ZEE, Agri leadership award etc. He was declared as “Globoil Man of the Year-2013” for his contribution to Vegetable Oil Industry.
Mr. Atul Singh a post graduate in International Business Administration, he began his Agri commodity trading career in 2007 from Olam India Pvt. Ltd., he has worked with major commodity trade house and producers like Noble, Cargill, Renuka, Dhampur Bio. In his current assignment with Shri Dutt India Pvt. ltd. he is managing the sugar refinery business. He specializes in international trade and has over 10 years of experience refinery business.
Mr. Brij Mohan Agarwal is a seasoned executive with over 33 years of experience in the sugar, power, and ethanol industries. Currently serving as Vice President at K.K. Birla Group of Sugar Companies, he oversees sugar marketing operations for Avadh Sugar & Energy Ltd and Magadh Sugar & Energy Ltd. His leadership spans management roles across a network of seven sugar factories in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. With an MBA in Finance, Mr. Agarwal has leveraged his expertise to significantly contribute to the sustainable growth of the K.K. Birla Group’s sugar sector. Beyond his professional responsibilities, he actively participates in charitable endeavors, supporting educational initiatives, temple management, and dharamshalas for pilgrims. His deep industry knowledge and strategic acumen have not only enhanced the group’s sugar, power, and ethanol segments but also underscored his commitment to community welfare.
Mr. Bruno Boszczowski is Head of Sugar Research for ED&F Man. Previously, Bruno spent 3 years as Head of Americas Sugar Research in Miami, after 5 years working as a senior analyst in the Brazilian Sugar Market in São Paulo. Bruno has experience performing crop tours in several mills among Brazil, Centrals America, Mexico and India with solid knowledge in supply, demand, prices and trade dynamics aspects related to the Sugar World. Other experience includes working as agricultural commodities analyst, consultancy and AD-HOC work for companies investing in Brazil. Bruno is an Agronomical engineer from Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR) with a Master degree of Agriculture Economic in Universidad Catholic of Chile, specialist in agriculture commodities, with over fifteen year experience in the sugar and ethanol market.
Mr. C. S. Nopany is a distinguished industrial leader with vast experience in sugar, textiles, and fertilizers, driving the success of multiple companies. He is a qualified CA and holds an MSc in Industrial Administration from Carnegie Mellon University, USA. He is actively involved in education, serving as Chairman of Vikas Vidyalaya and Nopany Institutes, and fosters international relations as the Honorary Consul of Portugal in Kolkata.
Dr Claudiu Covrig is Founder and Lead Agriculture Analyst of CovrigAnalytics, an independent provider of market research, analysis, forecasts, supply & demand, trade flows and policy information for the sugar and ethanol markets. Claudiu’s expertise includes market research, trade flows, forecasts, international arbitrages, futures and swaps trading combined with academic work focussed on management, economics and renewable energy markets and systems. He often serves as a speaker or chairman at international conferences. With over 18 years’ experience, prior to founding CovrigAnalytics, Claudiu worked as a market research analyst and consultant with S&P Global Platts and Kingsman in Switzerland, and traded futures and swaps with Sucden in Geneva. He was also a research associate and university assistant professor in Switzerland and Romania. Claudiu has a PhD degree from Transilvania University of Brasov, with a focus on renewable and conventional energy markets and systems. In addition, he has a Master’s degree in Engineering Design and Management of Renewable Energy Sources, and a diploma in Economic Engineering.
Mr. Gautam Shah is a founding partner at Gautam Sugar Trading Company established in 1986 in Kolhapur. Mr. Gautam began his journey in the sugar trade at the tender age of 18. Today, with over 38 years of experience, he is a seasoned expert in domestic trade, adept at sourcing for bulk consumers, and catering to corporate institutions. His ability to adapt to market trends, deep industry knowledge and strategic vision along with his commitment to excellence have solidified the company’s reputation as a trusted leader in the sugar trade. With over 50 years of experience in the sugar industry, Mr. Sumatilal Shantilal Shah started Gautam sugar trading company in 1986 in Kolhapur, Maharashtra with the help of his son, Mr. Gautam Shah with an aim to become one of the major sugar trading houses in the state. In 2006, in order to meet the increasing consumer demand, a new branch was opened in Pune led by Mr. Vinit Shah. Now, with over 35 years since its incorporation, Gautam sugar trading company has become one of the leading sugar houses in the state delivering high-quality sugar to not only private and public enterprises throughout the country and but also to the international market through their newly established export division.
Mr. G K Sood is a veteran in commodities, with experience spanning Oil and Natural Gas, Steel, the Agri Industry, and trading sectors. He has previously served on the Board of Shree Renuka Sugars, Advisor to Godavari Biorefineries Ltd, and held top positions at Noble Resources India and Louis Dreyfus Commodities India. An alumnus of the Delhi School of Economics, he has researched industrial development and contributed to policy formulation with the Government of India. He is also known for successfully turning around a struggling industrial unit. AISTA eagerly anticipates Mr. G K Sood’s vast knowledge to enrich discussions and guide the Sugar & Bioenergy industry forward.
Mr. Guilherme Nastari, Director at DATAGRO since 2006 is a seasoned expert in the agri-industrial sector, contributing to various high-profile industry boards. With a robust background in market advisory, his clientele spans sugar, ethanol, biodiesel, biogas, corn and more. He is a regular columnist and prominent speaker at conferences in over 25 countries, including Brazil, USA, UK, India and more. He holds an M.Sc. in Agroenergy from Fundação Getúlio Vargas and a Bachelor’s in Economics from IBMEC, São Paul. Prior to DATAGRO, he honed his skills at Cargill in Geneva and Hong Kong, and research assignment at the ISO in London.
Mr. Harsh Ramraika is the Director at Siddhivinayak Data Private Limited, a distinguished firm specializing in sugar brokerage, trading, and exports. With a family legacy spanning over 40 years in the industry, Harsh brings 8 years of dedicated experience to his role. An alumnus of King’s College London with an MSc in International Management, Harsh began his career mastering sugar trading and brokerage within the family business. His strategic foresight and hands-on approach have been instrumental in expanding the company’s market presence and maintaining a competitive edge. Through in-depth market analysis, Harsh has significantly enhanced operational efficiency and profitability, ensuring superior service delivery that distinguishes the company in the competitive landscape. Under Harsh’s leadership, Siddhivinayak Data Private Limited operates across 150 locations in 20 states across India. The firm is renowned for its comprehensive market research and precise market demand-supply predictions, catering to over 35 esteemed corporate clients nationwide. Harsh’s steadfast commitment to excellence and integrity upholds the company’s esteemed legacy while embracing future growth opportunities.
Mr. Harshwardhan Patil is one of the dynamic leaders among the senior level political leaders of this day in Maharashtra state. He has a very impressive record as an efficient Minister with capability of handling multiple portfolios and a proven record of deep knowledge of administrative governance. He is known to command respect of every senior beuracats who worked with him. His Educational qualification is B.Com, L.L.B.
Present Position:
- President of National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories Ltd., New Delhi;
- Founder Chairman: Nira Bhima Co-operative Sugar Factory Ltd., Shivaji Nagar, Indapur, Dist. Pune;
- Chairman: Karmyogi Shankarravji Patil Co-operative Sugar Factory Ltd., Mahatma FuleNagar, (Bijvadi) Indapur, Dist. Pune;
- Chairman: Dudhganga Utpadak Sangh Maryadit, Indapur.Dist. Pune;
Mr. Harshveer Singh Soni, a nominated member of Aista on behalf of Shri Dutt India Pvt ltd, one of the largest and most promising sugar manufacturing groups in the country today. Shri Dutt India Pvt ltd has been the largest exporter of sugar out of India in recent years and have stamped their presence in the global sugar map by operating a sugar refinery at Kandla. Mr. Harshveer Singh Soni brings nearly two decades of experience to Greenleaf, specializing in the research and trading of agricultural commodities, with a focus on Sugar Grains, Edible Oils, and Oilseeds. Having honed his skills in esteemed multinational corporations such as Louis Dreyfus, AWB, Noble, ED&F Man, and Bunge, Harshveer possesses a comprehensive skill set in commodity trading and market analysis. His transition into entrepreneurship over the past five years has seen him spearhead comprehensive research endeavors within the agricultural commodities sector, particularly in Sugar, Cotton, Wheat, and Rice.
Mr. Kapil Nema is the Assistant Executive Director of Sales for the Sugar Business at Dalmia Bharat Sugar & Industries. During his almost two decades-long career in the sugar industry, he has held pivotal roles in prominent organizations and made significant contributions. In his current role, he continues to leverage his extensive experience and expertise to drive sales and strategic growth initiatives. Prior to his tenure at Dalmia Bharat Sugar & Industries, Kapil held key positions at several organizations, including Shree Renuka Sugars (a Wilmar Group company), Sucden, Bunge, Louis Dreyfus Commodities, Adani Enterprises and The State Trading Corporation of India. His ability to implement streamlined processes and harmonize regional market insights with global strategies has consistently enhanced profitability and mitigated risks. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Master’s degree in International Business.
Ms. Manisha Gupta, an MBA with a Diploma in International Trade Finance, is the Commodities Editor at CNBC-TV18. With expertise spanning from Crude oil to Corn, she’s renowned for her insightful coverage and policy analysis. Winner of prestigious awards, she leads commodity discussions across CNBC channels and strengthens video coverage on Moneycontrol.com.
Mr. Mrituenjay Kumar Jha, the esteemed commodity editor of Zee Business, commands a remarkable 16-year tenure with the network, complemented by a noteworthy stint at CNBC Awaaz. With an extensive 18-year immersion in the commodity market, Mr. Jha’s expertise stands unrivaled. His flagship commodity program holds court as the premier choice among business channels. Renowned for his bold and impressive anchoring style, Mr. Jha’s adeptness in research and investigative prowess has unearthed numerous scams within the commodity market, illuminating issues surrounding pulses, castor, guar, jeera, and more. His incisive questioning of panelists is lauded among viewers, stakeholders, and policymakers alike.
Mr. Mukul Sharma is a Part of the Senior Leadership Team, He has been with the Company since 1993, is responsible for the Key decision making for the Group. Carries a 3 Decade Rich Experience in the Trading and International / Domestic Markets for Sugar, Ethanol, Chemical, ENA, portable Liquor and other Allied products of the company.
Dr. Murugesh R. Nirani, born in 1965 in Basava Hanchinal, Karnataka, is a distinguished industrialist, politician, and social worker. Raised in a humble farming family, he holds a Civil Engineering degree and a Diploma in Business Management. Beginning his career in agriculture, he later founded the MRN Group in 1996, which now employs over 70,000 people and supports 300,000 sugarcane farmers. Nirani Sugars, part of the MRN Group, started as India’s smallest sugar mill and is now the largest privately held mill with a crushing capacity of 74,000 TCD per day. He also chairs TruAlt, one of Asia’s largest biofuel producers. A committed BJP leader, Dr. Nirani significantly contributed to the party’s growth in North Karnataka and led the BJP Yuva Morcha from 1993 to 2000. He served as Minister for Large and Medium Scale Industries from 2008 to 2013 and from 2021 to 2023. He organized the Global Investors Meet (GIM) in 2010, 2012, and 2022, attracting ₹5 lakh crore in investments and generating over 5 lakh jobs. He introduced policies like the New Industrial Policy, Semiconductor Policy, IT & BT policies, Aerospace policy, and Udyami Aagu-Udyoga Needu. He initiated Industrial Adalats and established a Land Bank for investors. Dr. Nirani also founded educational and social institutions, including the MRN Foundation, Tejas International School, and MRN Ayurvedic Medical College. His dedication to social service and community development has earned him numerous awards, such as the Bharatha Udyoga Rathna Award, Ranichennamma Award, and the Make in India Award. Dr. Nirani’s efforts have made him a pivotal figure in Karnataka’s progress.
Mr. Nilesh Shah is Group President & Managing Director of Kotak Mahindra Asset Management Co. Ltd. He has over 30 years of experience in capital markets having worked in ICICI Group, Axis Bank Group and Franklin Templeton. He has been part of the teams that received the “Best Fund House of the Year” Award at Franklin Templeton, ICICI Prudential and also at Kotak Mutual Fund. Nilesh is a Board Member of AMFI, a Member of SEBI’s CoBoSAC committee and a part-time member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister.
Mr. Oliver Chapman started his career at CZ in the CZADVISE team, talking to clients ranging from hedge funds to multi national consumers, producers to refiners, about the sugar market and CZ’s view on what is affecting fundamentals. Throughout this time, he was also part of the team developing the analysis and business intelligence side of CZ’s App – helping clients have access to CZ’s advisory teams analysis and data at the touch of a button. For the past four years Ollie has been based in Asia, utilising the skills and knowledge built over his years in London to provide risk management services to CZ’s clients. Helping them use futures, options or accumulator risk management strategies in order to take advantage of market fluctuations in different commodities within their risk appetite. On top of this he has taken a keen interest in the Indian market, being responsible for CZ’s exports from domestic mills when possible over the past few seasons.
Mr. Pankaj Kasera is a leading and prominent trader in the Indian sugar market. As the promoter of Shree Balaji Sugar and Greenleaf, a leading agro-commodity research hub, he has established a significant presence in the industry. Additionally, he is also one of the founders of ChiniMandi and serves as the Treasurer of the All India Sugar Trade Association (AISTA). With over three decades of experience in sugar trading within the Indian domestic market, Mr. Kasera possesses a profound understanding of market dynamics, strategic insights, and an extensive network with prominent sugar manufacturing groups in Uttar Pradesh. His expertise and leadership have solidified his reputation as a trusted authority in sugar trading and other agro commodities. Mr. Pankaj Kasera’s visionary approach to business growth is evident in his successful ventures in both domestic sugar trade and sugar export brokerage. He has been active in procuring huge quantities of sugar for exports and has been involved in significant exports of sugar, rice, chickpeas, and other agro commodities. Throughout his 30-year career, Mr. Kasera has demonstrated comprehensive knowledge across all facets of the industry, including production, distribution, pricing trends, and regulatory frameworks.Recently, he was conferred with two awards: “Business Excellence of the Year Award – 2022” in the Special Category from the Sugar Trading (Domestic) Sector (National Level), and “Outstanding Contributions to National Development.
Mr. Praful Vithalani is the proprietor of a renowned Sugar Brokerage House, Jagjivan Keshavji & Co, a second-generation firm. He enjoys unique respectability across the spectrum viz, the Government of India, sugar millers, trade houses, brokers, and sugar consumers. His views are sought for his impartiality and objectivity. True to the expanse of influence, he has been instrumental, along with some other like-minded persons, to form the All India Sugar Trade Association six years ago to be the representative voice of India’s sugar sector, be it Millers, Trade houses, Brokers, Sugar Distribution Trade, Superintendence Agencies, Brokerages, Forwarders, Investors, etc. He is the founder chairman of the Association. The Association has gained an exceptional measure of respectability in the short period of its existence. Prafulbhai, as he is affectionately addressed, has served the influential Bombay Sugar Merchants Association as a member of its Managing Committee for over 35 years, where he is respected for his mature counsel. He is an alumnus of Bombay University, which has conferred on him the degree of Bachelor of Commerce.
Mr. Prakash Naiknavare is the veteran of sugar sector having a long and fruitful association of more than 23 years with sugar sector. He is currently the Managing Director of NFCSF. India’s National Sugar Federation, an apex body represents all the 258 cooperative sugar mills & 9 state sugar federations across India. In the current position, he has threefold responsibility viz. parenting of member mills, providing technical consultancy to sugar mills, within & outside India & play a key role in India’s policy advocacy on sugarcane, sugar & downstream value added by-products. Academically, he has basic graduation in Agriculture Science & Post graduate Diplomas in Business Management and Marketing Management. He also had a 5 year tenure as Country Head – India of Sugar Maxx Inc., a US based MNC, which has developed 100% organic products / agri-input which aids sugar recovery in Sugarcane, Grapes, Pomegranates and Banana Plantations. Mr. Naiknavare has been closely associated with India’s Sugar / Sugarcane/ Ethanol / Co-generation related policies. He has to his honour of having contributed in various high power committees appointed by Government of India. Mr. Naiknavare has widely travelled across the globe & has visited almost all the major sugar producing countries. He has to his credit having addressed number of Sugar conferences within & outside India.
Mr. Rahil Shaikh, Managing Director, MEIR Commodities India Pvt. Ltd., a freshly recognized agro commodity trading firm focusing on domestic and international markets in various commodities like Sugar, Ethanol, Molasses, Edible Oil, Organics etc., Rahil Shaikh till recently Managing Director of ED&F Man India (prior to MEIR) started his career with Man agents in 1994 and thereafter joined ED&F Man as a full time Director in 2006. Rahil has 25 years’ experience with the Indian sugar industry. He is among the few diverse personalities beloved by the sugar industry for its expertise and thought process for the betterment and success of the Indian Sugar Industry. He is also Vice president of All India Sugar Trader Association (AISTA) and has been expert speaker on agri commodities in India. Rahil has studied science and literature from Mumbai University.
Mr Raj Paul Bhagria is the Chief Executive Officer of All India Sugar Trade Association [AISTA], New Delhi, which is an association of all stake holders in the sugar sector. A member of elite Indian Economic Service, he has served the Government of India in various senior positions dealing with economic policy matters, particularly those relating to sugar and sugarcane. He has held the position of Advisor in the Commission for Agricultural Costs & Prices (CACP) , a body responsible for advising the Government of India in the matter of pricing of crops and policies pertaining to the sector. He has also held the position of Chief Director, Sugar for over five years. He retired from service in July, 2012, after putting in 32 years. He is currently the Chief Executive Officer in the All India Sugar Trade Association. He is a Post graduate in Economics from Punjab University and M. Phil. (Economic Planning) from Glasgow University, U.K. He also hold the law degree from Delhi University.
Mr. Ravi Gupta is Executive Director of Shree Renuka Sugars Limited. He has 30 years of multi agro commodity experience in Sugar, Ethanol, Grains and Oilseeds etc. He has been working with Renuka Sugars since 2013. He is a Commerce Graduate and a Post Grade in Forest Management from Indian Institute of Forest Management. He started his career with Govt. run cooperative “TRIFED” and was the Managing Director of Noble (now COFCO) in India prior to joining Renuka Sugar in 2013. Other companies he has worked with are – Louis Dreyfus, Bajaj Hindustan Limited, Australia Wheat Board. He is is passionate about sugar and ethanol industry in India and have contributed immensely to Ethanol Blending Policy in India. He is honorary member of West India Sugar Mills Association (WISMA), Member of task force on Sugar and Bioenergy of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). Member of Ethanol Group of Indian Federation of Green Energy (IFGE), Chairman of Export and Ethanol Committee of AISTA.
Mr. Roshan Lal Tamak heads the Sugar and Ethanol businesses at DCM Shriram Ltd as its Executive Director & CEO. He brings with him more than three decades of distinguished professional experience of leading large organizations towards strategic growth in the Indian Sugar Sector. He has made his mark in the industry by successfully handling a gamut of assignments ranging from setting up green field as well as brown field expansion projects, managing strategic acquisitions, and turning around companies during his tenure with leading Indian & multinational companies like Balrampur, Dhampur, Mawana & Olam International. Mr. Tamak is a passionate sustainability practitioner and has been championing the cause of income growth of both small & marginal farmers by significantly improving agricultural productivity, introduction of good management practices. He also brings in the experience of running multi-stakeholder partnerships with multilateral agencies, global FMCG majors, civil society organizations and development banks for furtherance of sustainability initiatives. Mr Tamak is a regular speaker at various national & international seminars as well as academic institutions. He is widely travelled and exposed to best global practices in the industry and has attended numerous leadership programs in institutes like IIM-Ahmadabad, Tata Management Training Centre, Pune and Corporate Coach Institute, Singapore.
Mr. S. M. Raza Commerce Graduate and M.B.A from AMU Aligarh. A skilled professional with rich experience of more than 30 years in sugar industry, associated with Bajaj Hindusthan sugar limited since 2005 and currently serves as as Sr. Vice president. He has expertise in planning, formulating, and implementing marketing strategies and promotions to increase market penetration and drive revenue and profitability by maximizing sales. He possesses a strong understanding of sugar trade in the country and has been recognized for his active involvement in Bajaj Group’s business expansion. Mr. Raza has played a key role in monitoring the construction phase of units and providing decision-making assistance by mobilizing mass support from farmers and other stakeholders in times of need. An enterprising leader, he has proven skills in leading teams towards the achievement of organizational goals and industry best practices. His rich experience includes managing the overall development of the company’s business by monitoring the sugar sales of the Bajaj Group. He has the merit of setting up sugar units from scratch, starting with land identification to plant operations. Mr. Raza excels in impacting organizational profitability through effective strategic and technical management decisions and new business development. He has successfully assisted in cane management through strong links with farmers and is well-known in the market for creating sales in no-buyer situations through his strong connections in the sugar trade.
Mr. Sandeep Kadam is Post Graduate in Agri Business Management with extensive experience in agriculture and rural economy. He started his research career in the 2010 with Noble resources (Now COFCO) covering Sugarcane, Cotton, Coffee and major field crops for India, Australia, and North Africa. He joined ED&F Man as Analyst in 2012. On successful performance in research he was promoted to trading desk. He has been successfully originating sugars for ED&F Man’s various offices along with relationships with stakeholders in Sugar industry. He is now looking after trading & management responsibilities for South Asia (India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Pakistan) at ED&F Man.
Mr. Sangeet Singla is a member of Indian Defence Accounts Service (2004 batch). He was appointed Director in the Department of Food and Public Distribution, Government of India in September, 2020. Currently, he is holding the post of Chief Director (Sugar Veg Oil), Directorate of Sugar and Vegetable Oils. He holds Master degree in Business Management in the first class from Kurukshetra University. He has held the various responsible position in the Finance and Accounts Management of Indian Army, Indian Armed Forces and DRDO. Also, he trained new entrants of Civil Services and Army Officers for Finance and Accounts Services as Associate Professor (SG) at National Institute of Financial Management, Ministry of Finance. Further, he remained Finance Officer for Indian Armed Forces at UN Peacekeeping Mission at Sudan.
Dr. Seema Paroha is the first woman Director of the National Sugar Institute (NSI), Kanpur, since its establishment in 1936. She holds a postgraduate degree in Biochemistry from Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya, Indore, and a Ph.D. from Rani Durgavati Vishwavidyalaya, Jabalpur. With over 25 years of academic experience, she joined NSI Kanpur in 2014 as Professor and Head of the Biochemistry Department. Dr. Paroha has significantly contributed to the establishment of NABL accredited test facilities at NSI. She specializes in alcoholic fermentation and ethanol production from alternative feedstocks and has developed waste disposal techniques for distilleries in the Ganga and Yamuna basins. Her work also focuses on improving the profitability and sustainability of the Indian sugar industry. She has published numerous research papers in both National & International Journals and also guided 7 Ph.D. and more than 40 dissertations students.
Mr. Shuvdip Banerjee, Chief Digital Marketing Officer at ITC LTD, played a pivotal role in creating some of the iconic challenger brands from the house of ITC, like Bingo!, Yippee, Sunfeast Dark Fantasy, Sunfeast Mom’s Magic, B Natural, and others. Created a robust and integrated insights practice for the food and beverage business for ITC. Was instrumental in conceptualizing and implementing the growth engine – Sixth Sense. Established the Data and Analytics practice at ITC, which has now become a center of excellence. Similarly, the CRM and ORM practice, called Synthesis, which originated from the Foods business, is also another center of excellence today. Has been the architect of creating a connected digital ecosystem for effective and efficient brand building. This journey of providing delightful and engaging consumer experiences continues. Started the practice of Digital First marketing at ITC; today, this idea is heavily embedded in all marketing strategies. Have been instrumental in leading the path to achieve the core objective of a technology-led, innovative, and creative organization to empower the next frontier of sustainable growth and provide continuous competitive advantage.
Mr. Siddharth Amin formally joined the family-owned Dr. Amin Controllers in the year 1983, subsequent to having spent a number of years as a trainee at the company’s various Branch offices in the country. He obtained first-hand experience in the Loading & Discharge Supervisions & Surveys of Vegetable Oils, Bagged & Bulk Sugar, Bulk Grains & Cereals, Fertilizers, Minerals & Ores. Over the years with the company, he, with his colleagues, has led numerous expansions in building a very diversified Testing, Inspection & Certification portfolio which Includes 3rd Party Quality Assurance & Technical Support Services to the industrial and infrastructure sector in India, Collateral Management Services to numerous International Banks & Commodity Finance Institutions, Minerals & Ores Assaying and Food Testing. He also leads the international presence outside INDIA – AgriMin Control International which took birth in May 2018 in Geneva. AgriMin have been inspecting various commodities in Ukraine, Russia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Brazil and Argentina. Alongside these activities, was the establishment of a nationwide branch network of ISO-17025 accredited testing laboratories and ISO-17020 accreditation for Dr Amin Controllers Pvt Ltd. A career in this area spanning nearly 40 years today.
Mr. Somnath Chatterjee has over 30 years of rich experience in handling key positions at food industry / FMCG giants like Nestle. He specializes in commodities procurement and strategic planning with focus on implementing cost reduction measures. He has vast experience in logistics, warehouse management, distribution, transportation, production planning and inventory management. Somnath has done his post-graduation in humanities with specialization in tea and coffee tasting from J. Thomas & Co, Kolkata and Thompson Lloyd & Ewart of London. He has undergone various management courses on: Procurement psychology, Price Risk Mitigation, Internal controls, Process Management & lean management. He is a member of Bangalore Chamber of Industry & Commerce and Indian Merchants Chamber. Somnath is a regular speaker at several national and international commodity related seminars and a visiting faculty at IIM Ahmedabad and Bangalore.
Mr. Vinamra Agarwal is the Head of Sugar Sales for Dhampur Bio Organics Ltd. He is responsible for overseeing the group’s sugar sales across multiple categories, including bulk sugar, institutional business, pharma sugar, consumer pack Dhampure, private label, and HoReCa.
Mr. Vishal Nirani, Director at Nirani Sugars, is a leading innovator in the agro-industrial sector. He has enhanced operational efficiencies and optimized frameworks, driving production efficiency and integrating robust commercial strategies. His initiatives have significantly advanced the company’s productivity. Vishal is committed to environmental sustainability and social responsibility, empowering rural communities. He is a Whole-time Director at TruAlt Bioenergy and Managing Director at Leafiniti Bioenergy Limited, overseeing operations at India’s second CBG plant under the SATAT scheme. In addition to his role at Nirani Sugars, Vishal is a Director at Nirani Holding and Nirani Energy. He also founded Accutrade Global LLP and VR International in Dubai, showcasing his expertise in trading and market dynamics. His extensive experience in the sugar, bioenergy, and agro-industrial sectors, along with his insights into sustainable practices and strategic market navigation, position him as a thought leader driving transformative business strategies and growth.
Further announcements are on the way...
Speakers
Mr. Sanjeev Chopra joined Indian Administrative Service in the year 1990. He has experience of over 33 years in different positions in State and Central Government. He is currently Secretary, Department of Food & Public Distribution (DFPD) Government of India, from 31st October, 2022. As Secretary (DFPD), he deal with matters relating to foodgrain management in the country for the central pool stocks including procurement, storage and movement of wheat, rice & coarse grain for its further distribution through network of Public Distribution System Outlets. He also deals with policy formulation for the sugar and edible oil industry in the country. Administration of National Food Security Act, 2013 is one of the major responsibilities. In the past, he has served as Agriculture Production Commissioner and Secretary of Departments such as Home, Industries, General Administration and Agriculture in the State Government of Odisha. He has a rich experience of servicing in State PSUs such as Odisha Mining Corporation, Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation and Industrial Promotion and Investment Corporation. Mr. Chopra also served as Joint Director in LBSNAA, Mussoorie where he was closely involved with the design and delivery of mid-career training programme for IAS officers. Mr. Chopra holds an M.Sc. in Urban Planning from London School of Economics, MBA from FMS, Delhi University and B.Com (H) from Shri Ram College of Commerce. He has been recipient of National e-Governance Award for Excellence in Government Process Re-engineering for Digital Transformation given by Government of India in the years 2020 and 2021.