Jharkhand Looks to Lulu Group for Global Market Access at Davos Talks

Davos, Switzerland | 22 January 2026 On the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren held discussions with Yusuff Ali, Founder and Managing Director of Lulu Group, to explore a possible sourcing partnership for products from the State. The talks focused on connecting Jharkhand’s agriculture-based and forest-based products with Lulu Group’s large domestic and international retail network. According to officials aware of the meeting, the discussions centred on improving market access for farmers, women-led Self-Help Groups (SHGs), and forest-dependent communities. The idea is to integrate Jharkhand’s produce into Lulu Group’s supply chains, which operate across several Indian states and international markets in West Asia, Southeast Asia, Europe, and North America, provided quality standards and supply readiness are met. Lulu Group also expressed interest in supporting capacity-building efforts in Jharkhand. Officials said this could include assistance in quality control, aggregation systems, and logistics, which are essential for large-scale retail sourcing. Such steps would help local producers meet both domestic and international retail requirements in a consistent manner. As a follow-up, a high-level delegation from Lulu Group is expected to visit Jharkhand for an on-ground assessment of production capacity, infrastructure, and supply-chain capabilities. While no formal agreement has been signed yet, officials described the discussions as exploratory. The Jharkhand government said it aims to position the State as a reliable sourcing partner by working closely with farmer collectives and women-led SHGs, as part of its broader effort to attract private-sector partnerships and strengthen value addition and market linkages for local producers. Jharkhand Eyes Retail Tie-Up With Lulu Group at Davos to Boost Local Produce Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren met Yusuff Ali, Founder and Managing Director of Lulu Group, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos to explore a possible sourcing partnership. The talks focused on bringing agriculture-based and forest-based products from Jharkhand into Lulu Group’s domestic and international retail markets, opening new opportunities for the State’s producers. Officials said the discussions highlighted better market access for farmers, women-led Self-Help Groups (SHGs), and communities dependent on forest produce. Lulu Group, which runs a wide retail network across India and global markets in West Asia, Southeast Asia, Europe, and North America, indicated that some products from Jharkhand could fit into its supply chain, subject to quality standards and supply readiness. The Group also showed interest in capacity-building support within Jharkhand. This may include improving quality control, strengthening aggregation systems, and upgrading logistics to meet the requirements of large-scale retail operations. Officials noted that such steps are important to ensure steady supply and compliance with international norms. As a next step, a high-level Lulu Group delegation is expected to visit Jharkhand to assess production capacity and supply-chain infrastructure. While no formal agreement has been announced yet, the interaction was described as exploratory. The State government said it aims to position Jharkhand as a reliable sourcing partner by working closely with farmer groups and women-led SHGs.