Navjot Singh Sahota
Business Manager
Mohali,PB
Summary
Senior Agribusiness Executive with 18+ years of leadership in procurement, export sales, and international trade of agri-commodities, with specialized expertise in Basmati and non-Basmati rice exports. Proven track record of executing multi-million-dollar export contracts across the Middle East, GCC (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain), and Europe, building sustainable partnerships with importers, distributors, and modern trade retailers. Adept at managing end-to-end export operations, including documentation, customs compliance, logistics, and quality certifications, ensuring seamless international shipments. Recognized for expanding global market presence, driving revenue growth, and securing repeat business through strategic negotiations and market intelligence in competitive rice and grain markets. Alongside core agribusiness expertise, I am experienced in packaged foods and FMCG trade, particularly in procurement, distribution, and supply chain integration. Skilled at aligning consumer-driven FMCG trends with global trade opportunities, while maintaining focus on efficiency, compliance, and quality. Successfully developed and executed pesticide-free Brown Basmati rice exports to Europe, meeting stringent EU food safety standards.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Assistant General Manager
Harvesting India Private Limited
04.2023 - Current
- As Assistant General Manager in Agri Trade at Harvesting India Pvt. Ltd., I am responsible for end-to-end procurement and supply chain functions across a diversified portfolio of agricultural commodities. This includes both field crops and value-added products, with a key focus on Basmati and Non-Basmati rice procurement and exports.
- Key Commodities Handling: Field Crops: Maize, Paddy, Wheat, Mustard; Processed Products: Basmati Rice, Non-Basmati Rice, Whole & Ground Spices; Volume: Over 20,000 Metric Tons in FY 2024–25.
- Core Responsibilities: Vendor Development & Management: Identifying and qualifying new suppliers, including farmers and Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs); Conducting vendor audits, quality assessments, and compliance checks; Building long-term supplier relationships to ensure reliability and quality.
- Procurement & Price Negotiations: Leading direct procurement operations aligned with the APMC regulations of various Indian states; Conducting strategic price negotiations with both vendors and institutional buyers.
- Market Intelligence & Expansion: Exploring potential new markets for procurement and distribution; Monitoring mandi trends, demand patterns, and competitor activities.
- Contract & Supply Chain Management: Structuring and managing procurement and supply contracts; Overseeing packaging, warehousing, logistics, and inventory flow across the value chain.
- Operational Leadership: Managing a geographically dispersed procurement team; Driving process improvements for cost efficiency and quality enhancement.
Procurement Manager
NTeX Transportation Services Pvt Ltd
09.2021 - 03.2023
- Trade, Procurement, and Supply Chain Management for Agri-Commodities.
- Key involvement in end-to-end trade, procurement, and supply chain management of key agricultural commodities, including rice, wheat, and maize.
- Overseeing sourcing strategies, vendor management, logistics coordination, and inventory control to ensure cost-effective and timely delivery of commodities.
- Additionally, responsible for Market Intelligence System maintenance, ensuring accurate and timely data collection, analysis, and reporting to management. This supports strategic trade decisions through real-time insights on commodity pricing, market trends, and risk analysis.
Category Head Rice and Maize
CGR Collateral Management (CGRCML)
06.2020 - 08.2021
- Trade, Procurement, and Supply Chain Management – Rice & Maize.
- End-to-end management of trade, procurement, and supply chain operations for key agri-commodities, specifically rice and maize.
- Core responsibilities include developing sourcing strategies, managing vendor relationships, coordinating logistics, and controlling inventory to ensure cost-efficient and timely commodity delivery.
- Additionally, accountable for the maintenance of a Market Intelligence System, providing timely and accurate data collection, analysis, and reporting. These insights support management in making strategic trade decisions by tracking commodity prices, market trends, and conducting risk assessments.
Director Entrepreneur
Narv Agro Foods Pvt Ltd
07.2013 - 01.2020
- Entrepreneur & Director – Narv Agro Foods Private Limited.
- Trade, Procurement, Supply Chain & International Trade – Basmati Rice, Non-Basmati Rice & Maize.
- Founded and managed Narv Agro Foods Pvt. Ltd., overseeing end-to-end trade, procurement, and supply chain operations for key agricultural commodities—Basmati rice, non-Basmati rice, and maize.
- Key Responsibilities & Achievements: Developed and executed comprehensive sourcing strategies, managed vendor relationships, coordinated logistics, and implemented robust inventory control systems, ensuring cost-efficient and timely deliveries.
- Led the setup and maintenance of a Market Intelligence System, enabling timely and accurate data analysis and reporting to support strategic trade decisions through monitoring of commodity pricing, market trends, and risk factors.
- Managed all aspects of financial operations, including compliance with required trade licenses and registrations for both domestic and international trade.
- Successfully executed international rice trade with key markets in the Middle East and the USA.
- Achieved onboarding with major modern trade retailers such as Metro Cash & Carry, Reliance Retail, and others, managing ongoing supply and distribution to retail outlets across North India.
Business Development Manager
Ebro India
06.2009 - 05.2013
- Managing rice procurement activities of rice (basmati, non-basmati and 100 % Brokens) for Ebro Group from rice millers in India.
- Including negotiation with millers, finalizing purchase contracts, scheduling the shipments and stocking of the rice in warehouses etc.
- Logistics management: Liasioning with shipping lines, CHAs and shipping department of exporters to meet the target shipping dates.
- Frequent updates on Market Intelligence to Global Procurement Management of the group.
- Constant communications with Ebro group companies in Europe, USA and Egypt to manage shipments on time.
- Quality control: Assuring rice shipments as per standard specifications with the help of third party inspection agency and personal visits to the rice plants and warehouses.
- Maintaining Updates on Agri commodities trading environment, shipping, logistics, warehouse management, export statistics etc.
Manager - Agri Services
Intertek India
06.2008 - 05.2009
- Driving business growth activities & breaking new avenues; conducting opportunity analysis by keeping abreast of market trends and competitor moves.
- Team Management: Leading the team of inspectors, surveyors, operation officer and commercial officer.
- Client Management: Relationship management, Credit management and Conflict resolutions.
Asst. Manager Marketing
Chambal Fertilizers and Chemicals Ltd
04.2005 - 05.2008
- Overseeing Sales/marketing, supply/distribution management, warehouse management, SAP implementation, transportation management, product management with marketing team under the leadership of Deputy General Manager.
- Managed the fertilizers i.e. rake handling and local transportation. (Minimization of handling and transportation expenses).
- Efficiently maintained Monthly Stock Report, Material Inward Material Outward, Stock Register Maintenance, and Warehouse Inspection & Inventory Management.
- Distinction in handling SAP (Sales, Stock in out, Inventory management).
- Supervised the agri-inputs sales (Pesticides, Seeds, and Bio-fertilizers) in distributor channel as well as in institutional channel- Punjab Agro Food Corporation; sales and marketing of Cattle feed.
- Instrumentally handled the promotional activities to create awareness about the products of the company in rural areas- Farmer Training Program, Farmer meetings, Demonstration, Jeep Campaign etc.
- Also Worked as Power User on S&D Module of SAP at Regional Marketing office, Chandigarh; Handling Day to day transactions and monthly closing- Inventory Control, invoicing reports and sales analysis.
Education
MBA/PGDM - Agribusiness
College of Agribusiness Management, G.B. Pant University of Agriculture & Technology
Pantnagar01.2005
B.Sc - Agriculture
Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology
Kanpur01.2003
12th Science Stream -
Rajasthan Board
01.1997
10th -
Rajasthan Board
01.1995
Skills
- International Trade
- Domestic Trade
- Global Agri-Commodity Trade
- FMCG Trade
- Export-Import Documentation
- Cross-Border Logistics
- Customs Management
- Procurement
- Supply Chain Management
- Strategic Sourcing
- Vendor Development
- Contract Negotiation
- Price Benchmarking
- Inventory Management
- Packaging Management
- Warehouse Management
- Commodity Intelligence
- Market Intelligence
- Price Risk Analysis
- Market Trend Monitoring
- Demand Planning
- Trade Operations
- Trade Lifecycle Management
- Supply Chain Coordination
- Shipment Scheduling
- Team Leadership
- Business Development
- Network Expansion
- Agri-Tech Integration
- FMCG-Tech Integration
- Strategic Planning
- Growth Execution
Certification
Training Program on Export Documentation & Risk Management in International Business, Federation of Indian Export Organizations (FIEO), New Delhi, 2012
Hobbies and Interests
- Punjabi Bollywood Music
- Reading Auto Biographies
- Watching Sports
- Movies & Web Series Based on True Stories
- Participation in Polio Eradication Movement
- Participation in Illiteracy Eradication Activities
- Participation in Campus Beautification
- Participation in Blood Donation Camps
Languages
- English
- Hindi
- Punjabi
Timeline
Assistant General Manager
Harvesting India Private Limited
04.2023 - Current
Procurement Manager
NTeX Transportation Services Pvt Ltd
09.2021 - 03.2023
Category Head Rice and Maize
CGR Collateral Management (CGRCML)
06.2020 - 08.2021
Director Entrepreneur
Narv Agro Foods Pvt Ltd
07.2013 - 01.2020
Business Development Manager
Ebro India
06.2009 - 05.2013
Manager - Agri Services
Intertek India
06.2008 - 05.2009
Asst. Manager Marketing
Chambal Fertilizers and Chemicals Ltd
04.2005 - 05.2008
MBA/PGDM - Agribusiness
College of Agribusiness Management, G.B. Pant University of Agriculture & Technology
B.Sc - Agriculture
Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology
12th Science Stream -
Rajasthan Board
10th -
Rajasthan Board
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