NCEL and COOPFED sign MoU for supply of essential food commodities

Wednesday, 7 October 2026 05:19 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The National Co-operative Exports Limited (NCEL), India, and the Sri Lanka Consumer Co-operative Societies Federation Limited (COOPFED) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Colombo today to strengthen cooperation in the supply of essential commodities, food security and cooperative development.

The MoU was signed by NCEL Managing Director Unupom Kausik and COOPFED Chairman Dr. Shantha Jayarathne in the presence of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe and Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha.

The MoU provides a framework for leveraging the cooperative networks and expertise of the two organisations. Under this partnership, essential food items will be supplied from India to Sri Lanka through the cooperative networks of NCEL and help minimise shortages and improve availability at affordable prices.

In addition to the supply of agricultural and food commodities, the MoU envisages cooperation in the exchange of market information and best practices, capacity building, technical cooperation, warehousing and logistics, supply-chain management and digital platforms. It will also strengthen institutional linkages between the cooperative sectors of the two countries.NCEL is established under the aegis of the India’s Ministry of Cooperation, to promote exports from the cooperative sector. Its partnership with COOPFED, the apex federation of consumer cooperative societies in Sri Lanka, will strengthen linkages between Indian suppliers and Sri Lankan consumers. The signing of the MoU marks a further step in strengthening India–Sri Lanka economic ties with a focus on food security, resilient supply chains and benefits for producers and consumers.