Program

AICA Cashew Convention

Program Schedule

Day 1 - Friday, August 7, 2026
12:00 noon onwards

Delegate Registration

1:00 pm to 2:30 pm

Networking Lunch

2:30 am to 3:30 pm

AICA Board of Directors Meeting (Closed Door)

3:30 pm

Exhibition opens

4:00 pm to 5:30 pm

Session-1: Updates from State Cashew Associations

Chair:
Mr Rahul Kamath, President, AICA
Mr M Ramakrishnan, National Secretary, AICA
Speakers:
Mr A K Rao, President, KCMA
Mr C.R. Selvamani, Treasurer, TNCPEA
Mr Urmil Raval, President, GCPA
Mr Anowar Uddin, BCMA
Mr Pratap Nair, SICMA
Mr Hanumant Ram Gandhi, NCPWA
Mr Suresh Bowlekar, President, MCMA
5:45 pm to 6:00 pm

Receiving the Chief Guest and Guests of Honour

6:00 pm to 6:15 pm

Inauguration of the Exhibition by the Chief Guest and the Guests of Honour

6:15 pm to 7:30 pm

Inaugural Function

7:30 pm to 8:00 pm

Thanking the Sponsors

8:00 pm to 10:00 pm

Cocktail Dinner

Day 2 - Saturday, August 8, 2026
9:00 am onwards

Exhibition Opens

10:00 am to 10:30 am

Presentation-1: Global RCN Scenario in 2026

Mr Abhijit Shinde, Head of Operations for Cashew & Cocoa, ETG
10:30 am to 11:15 am

Session-2: Discussion on Global RCN Markets in 2026

Chair:
Mr Sidharth Gupta, Director, Payal Dealers Pvt Ltd.,
Speakers:
Mr Alex N'Guettia, Chairperson, FIRCA and President, AEC-CI
Mr Rohan Savara, Director, Tropical Industries International Pvt Ltd
Mr Sukesh Aggarwal, Director, UB Aggarwal Group
Mr Abhijit Shinde, Head of Operations for Cashew & Cocoa, ETG
11:15 am to 11:30 am

Networking Tea Break Sponsored by Victory International

11:30 am to 12:00 noon

Presentation-2: Global Cashew Kernel Markets in 2026

Mr Gaurav Patil, Global Business Head of Cashews & Macadamia Processing, Olam Food Ingredients (OFI)
12:00 noon to 12:45 pm

Session-3: Discussion on Increasing Demand for Cashew Kernels in India

Chair:
Mr Chetan Shah, Director, Vardhman Cashew and Commodities Pvt Ltd
Speakers:
Mr Vinay Malpani, Director, Mewamitra
Mr Mayank Rastogi, VP (Staples), Blinkit India Pvt Ltd
Mr Rahul Sharma, Director, DMB Sweets Pvt Ltd
Mr Akshay Joshi, Business Lead - Dryfruits, Reliance Consumer Products Limited (RCPL)
Mr Varun Nevatia, Partner, S V Traders
Mr Raghuveer Sharma, Proprietor, Shri Salasar
12:45 pm to 1:15 pm

Session-4: Working towards Draft AICA Model RCN Contract and AICA Arbitration and Dispute Resolution Centre

Chair:
Mr Prakash Kalbavi, Managing Director, Kalbavi Consumer Foods Pvt Ltd
Speaker:
Prof. CA Lionel Aranha, M/s Lionel Aranha & Co
1:15 pm to 2:30 pm

Networking Lunch

2:30 pm to 3:00 pm

Exhibition Visit

3:00 pm to 4:00 pm

Session-5: Interaction with Machinery Manufacturers

Chair:
Mr Sathish Arokiaraj, Managing Director, Regal Farm Industries Pvt Ltd
Speakers:
Mr Ethan Truong, Director, CMV
Mr Vasant Barkade, Delta Cashew Machines
Mr Sasisekar K, Founder & CEO, nanoPix ISS Pvt. Ltd.
Mr GSN Raju, Managing Director, Vagmisun Cashew Integrated Solutions & partner MEYER Colour Sorters
4:00 pm to 4:45 pm

Presentation-3: Need for Generic Promotion and Different Possible Options

Introduction of Speakers by:
Ms Hena Awasthi, Kamakshi Impex
Speaker :
Ms Leelavati Gupte, Founder, Vibrant India & Co-Chair, Indian Chamber of Commerce
4:45 pm to 5:30 pm

AICA AGM

7:30 pm to 10:00 pm

Gala Dinner Sponsored by PJS Pajson Agro

Day 3 - Sunday, August 9, 2026
9:00 am onwards

Exhibition Opens

10:00 am to 6:00 pm

Inauguration of Kaju Mahotsav (Cashew Festival)

The cashew festival will have chef’s demo all through the day. Besides, there will be displays of innovative recipes, demonstration session and competition. Festival closes at 6:00 pm

10:00 am to 10:45 am

Presentation-4: AI Use Cases in Cashew Business

CA Pratik Sadrani, Partner, CSPS and Associates
10:45 am to 11:45 am

Session-6: Financing the Cashew Business - Options, Opportunities and Selection Criteria

Chair: TBA
Speakers:
Mr Hozefa S Jawadwala, Chairman, Managing Director & C.E.O, Aelea Commodities Limited
Mr Mohit Jangir, Founder & Director, InVed
11:45 pm to 12:00 noon

Vote of Thanks

Mr Urmil Raval, Chairman, AICA Cashew Convention 2026
12:00 noon to 2:30 pm

Networking Lunch Sponsored by Sharma's

5:00 pm

Exhibition closes

6:00 pm

Kaju Mahotsav closes

- END OF THE CONVENTION -