Suggestions
Mahesh Patel
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer at EXPORT TRADING GROUP
Mahesh Patel is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Export Trading Group (ETG), a leading agricultural supply chain company operating in over 40 countries globally, with a significant presence in Sub-Saharan Africa.12 Born in 1955 in Nairobi, Kenya, Patel pursued his education in commerce at Sardar Patel University in India, graduating in 1976. He began his career as an accountant at Mehta Joshi & Co. in Nairobi before purchasing and transforming Export Finance Company Ltd into Export Trading Company Ltd in 1981.23
Under Patel's leadership, ETG has become one of the largest agricultural supply chain companies in Africa, focusing on linking smallholder farmers to global markets. The company procures a wide range of commodities, including cashews, pulses, sesame seeds, and more, primarily from smallholder farmers.14 ETG emphasizes infrastructure development and processing initiatives to enhance agricultural productivity and improve the livelihoods of farmers across Africa.24
Patel's vision for ETG includes expanding its operations beyond agriculture into sectors like hospitality, information technology, mining, and infrastructure.3 His commitment to improving the agricultural landscape in Africa is reflected in his motto: "If farmers grow, we grow too".4
