National Co-operative Exports Limited (NCEL) and the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Tuesday to strengthen India’s cooperative-led agricultural exports. The agreement was signed in the presence of Dr. Ashish Kumar Bhutani, Secretary, Ministry of Cooperation.
Abhishek Dev, APEDA Chairman, and Unupom Kausik, NCEL Managing Director, signed the MoU on behalf of their respective organizations. The collaboration aims to enhance value for farmers, improve rural livelihoods, and strengthen India’s position in global agricultural markets, aligning with the recently launched National Cooperation Policy.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Bhutani emphasized that the partnership would focus on training, capacity building, export quality compliance, infrastructure development, participation in international trade fairs, global branding, and commodity-specific export strategies. “Through this MoU, cooperative societies will gain insights into global quality standards, food safety, and export documentation, enabling them to access international markets efficiently,” he added.
The MoU will combine APEDA’s technical expertise with NCEL’s extensive cooperative network to streamline exports of fruits, vegetables, spices, cereals, processed foods, and animal products.
Pankaj Kumar Bansal, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Cooperation, said the initiative will empower cooperative members to achieve export excellence, secure premium prices, and explore new markets. The collaboration is expected to deliver tangible economic benefits to farmers while reinforcing the role of cooperative institutions in India’s national development.