India signs trade cooperation pact with Zambia to boost cooperative exports

NEW DELHI : India has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Zambia to strengthen trade and cooperation between the cooperative sectors of both nations.

The agreement aims to enhance India’s cooperative exports, opening new opportunities for collaboration in various sectors. Announcing the deal in a written reply to the Lok Sabha, Union Cooperation Minister Shri Amit Shah highlighted that the Ministry of Cooperation is actively working to improve India’s cooperative export framework.

As part of this strategy, Indian diplomatic missions abroad are being engaged to provide vital market intelligence to the National Cooperative Exports Ltd (NCEL) and to help connect Indian cooperatives with overseas importers.

The India–Zambia pact is part of a broader initiative to diversify export destinations and strengthen economic partnerships across continents. In addition to Zambia, NCEL has also signed MoUs with Sinton Vantage Trading in Senegal and PT Sinton Surini Nusantara in Indonesia.

These agreements are expected to facilitate the exchange of goods, services, and technical expertise, giving Indian cooperatives a stronger presence in global markets.

Officials believe such collaborations will not only boost exports but also provide Indian cooperatives with insights into global demand trends, quality standards, and emerging opportunities.

This could help cooperatives become more competitive internationally, particularly in sectors such as agriculture, handicrafts, and processed foods. The Ministry’s approach focuses on leveraging India’s extensive diplomatic network to identify potential markets, connect with credible buyers, and create a sustainable pipeline for cooperative products abroad.

By forging strategic trade partnerships like the one with Zambia, India aims to establish itself as a major player in the cooperative export sector while contributing to the economic growth of partner nations.