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New Delhi, 19 September 2026 — The Indian Vegetable Oil Producers' Association (IVPA) has announced its leadership team for the 2026-27 term, bringing together senior executives from global commodities, food processing, edible oils and agribusiness at a time when the sector is being reshaped by shifting trade flows, geopolitical tensions, evolving energy policies, sustainability requirements and changing consumer expectations.
The appointments were confirmed during the association's 49th Annual General Meeting. Mr Sudhakar Desai, Chief Executive Officer of Emami Agrotech Limited, was re-elected as President of IVPA.
Four Vice Presidents were also appointed: - Mr Sumeet Mittal, Chief Executive Officer, Louis Dreyfus Company - Mr Somnath Chatterjee, Executive Vice President and Head of Procurement and Logistics, ITC Foods - Mr Dhritiman Biswas, Senior Director of Government Relations for South Asia, Cargill India - Mr V.K. Jain, Vice President of EXIM, Patanjali Foods
The composition of the leadership reflects the increasingly interconnected nature of India's vegetable oils sector, where domestic priorities must be viewed alongside developments in global commodity markets, food security, trade policy and supply chains.
Speaking after his re-election, Mr Desai said: 'India's vegetable oils industry is deeply connected to developments across global commodity and food markets. The challenges before us require a balanced perspective on trade, supply security, competitiveness, sustainability and the needs of the Indian consumer. IVPA will continue to bring the industry together, contribute credible perspectives to policy discussions and ensure that India's voice is effectively represented in the global vegetable oils dialogue.'
He added: 'Our leadership team brings together experience from different segments of the value chain. This breadth will help IVPA address immediate industry priorities while keeping a clear focus on the sector's long-term interests.'
Dr Bhavna Shah will lead the association as Chief Executive Officer, with responsibility for driving IVPA's strategic direction, institutional growth and overall agenda. Her mandate will span strategy, industry priorities, member engagement, advocacy, knowledge and research initiatives, partnerships, global outreach and new initiatives, with a clear focus on expanding IVPA's reach and strengthening its position as a leading voice for India's vegetable oils industry.
Commenting on her appointment, Dr Shah said: 'Our focus is to build on IVPA's strong industry standing with sharper insights, deeper global engagement and a forward-looking agenda. We will strengthen knowledge-led advocacy, anticipate emerging shifts and create meaningful collaborations that help the industry navigate change and shape the conversations that matter.'
With its 2026-27 leadership team in place, IVPA will concentrate on credible advocacy, stronger industry intelligence and deeper domestic and international engagement, while representing the interests of India's vegetable oils sector in an increasingly complex global environment.
The Indian Vegetable Oil Producers' Association represents stakeholders across India's vegetable oils sector, facilitating industry dialogue, knowledge exchange and engagement on policy, trade and market issues, while fostering collaboration across the domestic and global vegetable oils ecosystem.
Source: Tripura Star News