Kumar Bahukhandi
As global markets move toward responsible and transparent sourcing, India is positioning itself at the forefront by embedding sustainability and inclusion into its growth story. Reflecting this commitment, IDH, with Palladium and NISCOPS as Strategic Partners and Sattva Consulting as Knowledge Partner, hosted the third edition of its flagship event, SUTRA 2025 – Sustainable Trade Summit, at Le Mridien, New Delhi. Themed “Sourcing with Purpose: India’s Commitment to Inclusive and Sustainable Growth,” the summit concluded after two days of vibrant discussions, solution-driven dialogues, and global collaboration.
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Mr. Jagjeet Singh Kandal, Country Director, IDH India (left) with Mr. Rohit Kansal, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Textiles, GoI (right) at SUTRA 2025
Speaking on the significance of the platform, Mr. Rohit Kansal, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, shared that, “SUTRA 2025 reflects India’s growing leadership in building a sourcing revolution that is inclusive, sustainable, and globally influential. By bringing together farmers, FPOs, financiers, innovators, and industry, this platform truly embodies its name, SUTRA, the thread that connects us all. Collaboration is the cornerstone of transformation, and through initiatives like this, India is demonstrating how sustainability can move from compliance to competitiveness, from intent to impact. The Ministry of Textiles remains deeply committed to advancing circularity, strengthening farm-to-factory linkages, and positioning Indian textiles as a global model of responsibility and resilience. With the right partnerships, investments, and innovations, we can weave a future that is not only equitable and climate-resilient but also defines India’s leadership in sustainable growth.”
The event convened over 500 delegates and 60 speakers representing government, industry, development institutions, academia, and farmer organizations. Together, they explored how purpose-led sourcing can accelerate India’s transition to climate-resilient and socially equitable trade systems. The summit underscored India’s growing leadership in embedding sustainability and inclusion into the fabric of its trade and agricultural systems. Conversations across 13 sessions focused on themes such as responsible sourcing, climate finance, gender empowerment, living incomes, and technology-enabled transparency. Delegates shared practical models of regenerative agriculture, landscape approaches, and traceable value chains that demonstrate how economic progress, and environmental stewardship can advance together.
This year’s edition also featured a Sustainability Experience Centre, where organizations showcased innovations in traceability, regenerative farming, and circular production. Interactive demonstrations and solution pitches enabled participants to explore how emerging technologies and data-driven systems can enhance transparency and accountability across supply chains.
Reflecting on the summit, Mr. Jagjeet Singh Kandal, Country Director, IDH India, said Mr. Jagjeet Singh Kandal, Country Director, IDH India, said, “SUTRA 2025 reflects IDH’s core belief that sustainable growth can only be achieved through collaboration and shared accountability. Our work has always been about creating spaces where governments, businesses, financiers, and farmer institutions come together to design solutions that are practical, scalable, and inclusive. Through partnerships, we aim to translate sustainability commitments into tangible action, strengthening value chains, improving livelihoods, and driving measurable impact on the ground. The conversations at SUTRA 2025 reaffirm that collaboration is not just a principle of our work, but the pathway to building resilient markets and a more equitable future.”
Industry leaders including Mr. Sougata Niyogi (Godrej Agrovet); Mr. Sudhakar Desai (Emami Agrotech & IVPA); Ms. Sagarika Bose, Regional Head – CSR, India and APAC, SAP; Mr. Prabhakar Lingareddy, Executive Vice President & Head – Social Investments, ITC Limited; Mr. Mandeep Singh Tuli, Head – Foods Procurement, Hindustan Unilever Limited; and Dr. Arpita Mukherjee (ICRIER) shared perspectives on aligning business competitiveness with climate action and social responsibility. Ms. Marije Boomsma (IDH Global) further underscored IDH’s commitment to building partnerships that translate sustainability ambitions into scalable global impact.
Over the past three editions, SUTRA has evolved into one of India’s foremost platforms for advancing sustainable trade and responsible sourcing. The 2025 edition built on this legacy by deepening cross-sector partnerships and setting a forward-looking agenda for inclusive growth. As the summit concluded, participants reaffirmed their shared vision to align trade, technology, and sustainability, driving collective action towards a fairer and greener global economy.
About IDH
IDH seeks to transform markets through collaborative innovation, convening and investment in inclusive and sustainable solutions that enable businesses to create value for people and planet. To achieve this, IDH brings together coalitions of committed stakeholders from across global value chains towards joint visions and program agendas for sustainable trade in key agricultural, manufacturing, apparel and commodity value chains. In 15 years of operation, IDH has mobilised private sector investment and support to test and innovate new business models designed to create better jobs, better incomes, a better environment, and gender equity for all.
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For more info, visit: idh.org/contact/india
