Ankit Chandra

• Lead market development initiatives across Asia, Latin America, Africa, and support global ethanol programs spanning Europe, and the United Kingdom, and Canada working closely with regional offices to expand export opportunities for U.S. ethanol.

• Manage and execute a multi-million-dollar portfolio funded through USDA's Market Access Program (MAP), Regional Agricultural Promotion Program (RAPP), Agricultural Trade Promotion Program (ATP/AFTPP), and industry cost-share contributions from state corn associations, checkoffs, trade associations, and agribusiness partners.

• Develop market expansion strategies focused on creating new demand for U.S. ethanol across transportation, aviation, maritime, industrial, chemical, and clean cooking applications.

• Serve as the Council's global lead on Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and Sustainable Marine Fuel (SMF) initiatives, supporting international market development, policy engagement, and stakeholder coordination.

• Act as the primary liaison for ethanol-related engagement with international organizations including ICAO and IMO, while providing market intelligence and policy updates to USDA, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Department of State, Department of Commerce, and USTR.

• Engage government ministries, regulators, state-owned enterprises, industry associations, research institutions, and private-sector stakeholders to address regulatory barriers and advance market access objectives.

• Manage a network of consultants and technical experts across multiple international markets, ensuring effective program execution, stakeholder engagement, and delivery of strategic priorities.

• Lead trade missions, executive delegations, technical exchanges, and capacity-building programs across Asia and Latin America to support commercial partnerships and policy development.

• Support annual budget planning, grant applications, performance reporting, strategic planning, and implementation of USDA-funded export development programs in coordination with headquarters and overseas offices.

• Co-developed the Pure Play Green Sovereign Bond (PPGSB) framework with the World Bank's Finance, Competitiveness & Innovation Global Practice, aimed at expanding climate-finance access for environmentally sustainable emerging and developing economies.
• Evaluated sovereign debt markets, green bond frameworks, and climate-finance practices across emerging economies including Costa Rica, Bhutan, Suriname, Panama, Uruguay, and Gabon, developing qualification criteria based on carbon performance, natural capital, and green budgeting systems.
• Developed policy recommendations and implementation pathways for governments, multilateral development banks, and investors to mobilize climate-aligned capital and strengthen sustainable sovereign debt markets.

• Supported USAID-funded Alliance for Inclusive and Nutritious Food Processing (AINFP) activities across Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, and Zambia,focused on strengthening value chains, sustainability, and private-sector competitiveness.

• Conducted assessments of circular economy practices, including waste management, water efficiency, and renewable energy integration within food processing operations.

• Analyzed gender-inclusive procurement systems, climate-focused financing opportunities, and GHG emissions performance to support sustainable growth of African food processors.

• Led as one of three specialists in the Indian subcontinent, tasked with policy analysis, market intelligence, stakeholder management, trade advocacy, market access, international trade, and government liaison
• Advised U.S. policymakers on Agri-Food-Energy intersecting policy issues viz. U.S. Department of Energy (biofuels, clean energy); U.S. Trade Representative (product, trade, market access strategies); U.S. Trade Development Agency (market profiles, tariff rationalization); and U.S. International Trade Commission (trade malpractice, resolution mechanisms)
• Managed reporting and fundamental analyses for a wide commodity portfolio comprising of sugar, biofuels, oil complex, tree nuts, deciduous fruits, and organics in India.
• Supervised country representatives and overseeing annual strategy proposals and overall country strategy (EMP, MAP, and ATP) for U.S. cooperatives for budgets upto USD 2 million.
• Worked on a Memorandum of Understanding with the World Bank on USD 300 million ‘Climate Smart Agriculture (SMART) project’ with the Government of Maharashtra
• Represented American policy and business interests through active advocacy with the Indian government via ministries of Agriculture, Food Processing, Commerce, Finance, Biotechnology, and Petroleum & Natural Gas
• Achieved market access for U.S. origin GM soybean meal, pork, and cherries successfully.
• Supported on enforcement trade agreements to maintain and expand markets through U.S. Sugar Import Program, and the recognition agreement with USDA National Organic Program.
• Mitigated adverse effects from foreign country policy decisions, including technical, non-technical barriers to trade including retaliatory tariffs, trade malpractices, and compliance oversights

• Led a team of five analysts supporting business development and market intelligence activities across North America and Europe.

• Directed strategic research projects for more than 70 sales leaders, delivering industry analysis, market assessments, competitive intelligence, financial benchmarking, and growth opportunity identification.

• Managed one of the company's largest territories spanning the U.S., Canada, United Kingdom, Benelux, Germany, and Nordic markets while supporting pipeline development and strategic account growth initiatives.

• Participated in recruiting, onboarding, performance management, and team expansion efforts during a period of rapid organizational growth.

• Progressed through commercial, market development, and analytical roles across agribusiness inputs, agricultural machinery, and commodity trading.

• Managed fertilizer market intelligence, supply-demand forecasting, tender support, and commercial execution for Koch Fertilizers, contributing to placement of more than 250,000 MT of fertilizer products in India.

• Led business development, feasibility assessments, and institutional sales initiatives for agricultural machinery serving sugar, food processing, and power sector clients across Western and Southern India.

• Managed distributor networks, farmer outreach programs, and a team of seven field officers at Monsanto, expanding market penetration for hybrid seed and crop protection products.

• Developed early expertise in agricultural value chains, commodity markets, market intelligence, sales strategy, and stakeholder engagement that became the foundation for subsequent trade and policy leadership roles.