Our Board and Co-Founders

Valency International Inaugurates One of the World’s Largest Cashew Processing Plants in Ivory Coast.

A proud milestone for Valency International as we celebrate the inauguration of one of the world’s largest cashew processing plants. We were honoured to have His Excellency, Minister for Industry Dr. Souleymane Diarrassouba, inaugurate the plant on behalf of His Excellency Prime Minister Mr. Robert Beugré Mambé.

This plant was brought to life with an investment of USD 40 million partially co-funded with debt financing from Norfund and Finnfund with 45,000 mts of raw cashews annually, revolutionizing the industry in Ivory Coast.

Mr. PK Jain, Chairman of Valency International, added, "We’re committed to building a brighter future for Côte d’Ivoire. This project will create over 2,000 jobs, 80% of which will be held by women. We believe empowering women and supporting their children at the same time is the most powerful way to uplift a community."

Sumit Jain, CEO of Valency International, shared, "By processing cashews locally, we aim to elevate the country’s position from exporting 'Produce of Ivory Coast' to delivering 'Product of Ivory Coast.' This ensures prosperity for the people who grow and process these cashews."

We have planned to further invest into bioproducts plant to produce biochar and biofuels, ensuring 100% product optimization by converting agricultural waste into renewable energy and eco-friendly materials.

Our financial partners, including Norfund, Finnfund, BII, ABSA, IFC and regional financial institutions, have also been vital in bringing this vision to life. We are thankful to the Government of Côte d'Ivoire, especially Minister of Commerce and Industry, Minister of Agriculture, CEO of CEPECI and Prime Minister office, which has played a pivotal role in making this project a reality. The government, by extending various incentive scheme for local cashew processors, has created a highly conducive business environment for local and international investors.

We are thrilled to announce that Valency International has partnered with Proparco, DEG, and FMO to secure a landmark syndicated financing agreement. This collaboration is a testament to our shared commitment to sustainable agricultural growth, economic development, and community empowerment in Africa.

This partnership will enable us to double our Cashew Kernel factory capacity, expand our Champion brand of packaged foods with new product lines, establish a state-of-the-art supply chain complex in Ibadan, and set up a multi-seed crushing plant to scale fully processed, value-added products. Together, these initiatives will enhance food security, reduce waste, create jobs, and build resilient local value chains across Nigeria.

We are grateful to Proparco, DEG, and FMO for believing in our vision and joining us on this journey to transform Africa’s agricultural landscape. Together, we are building a more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable future.

Heartiest congratulations to Mr. Sumit Jain, Group CEO of Valency International Pte. Ltd., for receiving the Outstanding Achievement Award for Business Excellence (Excellence in Quality Food Products) from the All India Achievers Foundation!

This recognition highlights Valency International's exceptional contributions as a globally recognized supplier of high-quality food ingredients. It also underscores the company's commitment to advancing food production standards while addressing global food security challenges.

India’s role in fostering innovative and sustainable solutions for food security is more critical than ever, and our leadership is committed to driving meaningful change. Kudos to the entire Valency International team for this outstanding achievement and their continued impact on the global stage!

The award was received on Sumit's behalf by Ms Sonia Maheshwari - CFO Valency Agro, India.

PRAVEEN KUMAR JAIN

Praveen Kumar Jain is the Founder and Chairman of Valency International. He has played a pivotal role in transforming Valency from a small commodity trading company to a global integrated supply chain management organization with footprint across 22 countries. With over 30 years of proven and successful experience in trading and management, Mr Jain brings invaluable knowledge and insights to the table. In recognition of his achievements as a visionary entrepreneur and industry figure Mr Jain has been honoured with prestigious awards, notably the Asian Entrepreneur Award in 2011. Valency Internationals achievements under his leadership include recognition from platforms like the E50 Awards, SME 100 Awards, and Singapore 1000, underscoring the company's stellar performance in the industry. Mr Jain is passionate about running a global business with sustainable business practices that are fair to people and planet, with a particular focus on the communities that Valency works with globally. He had been leading Marwari community in Singapore as President to serve communities and Nation.

PRADEEP MAHESHWARI

Pradeep Maheshwari is Co-Founder and Senior Executive director at Valency International. As Co-Founder he has been associated with the group since 2007 and has more than 27 years of experience in the Agri commodity sector across Asia and Africa. As a member of the senior Executive Team at Valency International, Mr Maheshwari heads the Insurance and Internal Audit function as Assurance Head. Prior to co-founding Valency, Mr Maheshwari held senior leadership positions at Swiss Singapore Overseas Enterprises Pte Ltd. Mr Maheshwari holds a Chartered Account degree from The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India.

BASBA NAND BALODI

Basba Nand Balodi is the Co-Founder and Senior Executive Director at Valency International Pte Ltd. and one of the. shareholders. As Co-Founder he has played leadership roles in Valency and has over 35 years of entrepreneurial and professional experience in Agri commodities Across Asia and Africa. At Valency he has spearheaded several businesses including Beans, Pulses and Cashew. As head of the Cashew business he transformed Valency’s RCN trading line from small base to be among the top 5 player in the industry in just over 15 years. Prior to co-founding Valency Mr Balodi held senior leadership positions at Swiss Singapore Overseas Enterprises Pte Ltd. Mr Balodi holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Delhi University.