The National Cooperative Exports Limited (NCEL) has signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with MARCOFED, Nagaland’s apex cooperative federation, during the Nagaland Cooperative Conclave 2025 in Kohima. The partnership is expected to enhance export opportunities for grassroots producers and expand the role of cooperatives in India’s global trade landscape.
As the national-level body for cooperative exports, NCEL aims to provide structured market access for grassroots producers. The collaboration with MARCOFED focuses on building export-ready value chains for Nagaland’s unique agricultural, horticultural, and forest-based products, many of which have high potential in international markets.
Under the MoU, both organisations will jointly work on capacity building, product development, quality enhancement and market facilitation. The initiative seeks to strengthen cooperatives’ ability to meet global standards while ensuring that primary producers receive fair and sustainable returns. By connecting local strengths with global demand, the partnership aims to boost income generation, create new livelihood opportunities, and support economic resilience in the region.
The agreement also aligns with the broader national agenda of promoting cooperative-led growth, particularly in the Northeast. It underscores the increasing role of cooperatives not just as drivers of rural development, but as emerging contributors to India’s international trade ecosystem.
The MoU between NCEL and MARCOFED marks a step forward in positioning Nagaland’s cooperative sector within global value chains and strengthening the cooperative movement as a whole.
