Learning from a Trade Master at APEDA Bharati Business Challenge

Learning from a Trade Master at APEDA Bharati Business Challenge

It was a real privilege to reconnect with my Indian Institute of Foreign Trade super senior and a true master of trade, Anjan Mandal Sir, as part of the jury panel while representing Hyphen SCS at the The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) BHARATI BUSINESS CHALLENGE – Start-Up Pitch Competition

Sharing the jury table with him was a learning experience in itself. His career spans nearly three decades across the agri and commodity ecosystem, giving him a rare, end-to-end perspective that few possess.

Over the years, Anjan Sir has worked extensively across:
• Agri-business and commodity procurement
• Market linkages and price discovery
• Agri-tech and fintech-led value chain financing
• Agri-banking and structured trade finance
• Warehousing, collateral management, and SCM
• Large-scale non-perishable and bulk agri businesses

From building agri-lending products and managing large rural and commodity banking portfolios, to shaping commodity exchanges, creating pan-India warehousing networks, and leading procurement-led agri enterprises, his journey reflects a deep understanding of the value chain—from farmer to market to finance.

What impressed me most was not just the depth of his domain expertise, but also:
• His clarity of commercial and risk thinking
• His ability to connect policy, institutions, corporates, startups, and farmers
• His calm, grounded, and data-backed perspectives
• And the length and breadth of his network, built patiently over decades through credibility and execution

I learned a great deal from our interactions.

Conversations like these are powerful reminders that true mastery is forged over time—by seeing multiple cycles, adapting with change, and staying rooted in fundamentals.

Grateful for the opportunity to learn, exchange perspectives, and share the panel with a leader whose career is a masterclass in leadership, trust, and long-term value creation. 🙏

arunpandit.com

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@APEDA Bharati Business Challenge