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{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2018}}
{{Infobox person
| honorific_prefix = Captain and Professor
| name = Pawanexh Kohli
| image = File:Exemplary Thought Leader award.jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Pawanexh Kohli receiving Exemplary Thought Leader Award, New Delhi, 2012
| birth_date = May 1963
| birth_place = [[Ludhiana]], ([[Punjab, India]])
| citizenship = [[India]]n
| known_for = Founding CEO of [[National Centre for Cold-chain Development]] (NCCD)
| occupation = Agribusiness strategy, cold chain, food loss and economics
| awards =
}}
'''Pawanexh Kohli''' is the founding Chief Executive of India's [[National Centre for Cold-chain Development]] (NCCD),<ref name="PPShift">{{cite web|url=http://epaper.business-standard.com/bsepaper/pdf/2013/07/16/20130716aC002101.pdf|title=Business Standard News Article|accessdate=16 July 2013}}</ref> the premier think-tank in agri-logistics set up in [[public-private-partnership]] mode in 2012, and from 2012 to 2020 was the Chief Advisor to Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare.

==Early life==
Born to an [[Indian Air Force]] officer, he accompanied his parents with their postings at various Indian cities. As a consequence, his education was cross cultural and spread across various regions in India and the schools he studied in include Frank Anthony School in [[Agra]], Bishops School in [[Pune]], Jesus and Mary School in [[Amritsar]] before completing his high schooling from [[The Air Force School (Subroto Park)|The Air Force School]] in [[New Delhi]]. He subsequently completed his professional education from [[Lal Bahadur Shastri College of Advanced Maritime Studies and Research|LBS College of Advanced Maritime Studies and Research]] as a certified Master Mariner, having earlier completed his professional training at the [[Training Ship Rajendra|TS Rajendra]].

==Career==
In 1982, Kohli commenced his career as a [[merchant mariner|mariner]] and was later master of oceangoing ships for the final 15 years. Amongst others, he was the [[Master mariner|master]] and [[Captain (nautical)|captain]] of one of the world's largest refrigerated cross-ocean carriers ([[reefer ship]]s). Besides refrigerated transportation, he also directed or operated [[car carrier]]s, [[oil tankers]], [[container ships]], ice-class [[General cargo ship|general cargo]]carriers, timber carriers and others.

Between 2008 and 2012 Capt. Kohli contributed through professional executive roles as the prime mover in one of the largest logistics and distribution companies in India and later for the integration of the largest logistics & supply chain infrastructure enterprises, heading the development of solutions to drive a pan-national footprint of India's first set of [[Free trade zone|Free Trade Zones]].


In 2012 he was asked by the Government of India to help incubate the [[National Centre for Cold-chain Development]] (NCCD) as its Chief Advisor. He agreed to provide such service pro bono for one year. However, shortly thereafter, this body was restructured and in 2014, he was appointed on tenure as its founding Chief Executive Officer. He was then accorded entitlements equivalent to those of Joint Secretary in Government of India. He continued as the CEO of NCCD until demitting office in 2020. In this period, he concurrently served as the Chief Advisor to the Agriculture Ministry to guide initiatives related to post harvest management and agricultural supply chain. Nevertheless, with onset of COVID-19, he continued to support, through ad hoc advice, on various assessments in regards to vaccine distribution.

At NCCD, Kohli had key involvement in rationalizing and revising the cold chain support mechanism and various other related schemes to promote and encourage cold chain development. He also was prime mover in establishing a historic MoU of cooperation in cold chain between nodal Indian and French organisations. He was the French Government's guest of honor and represented India at the International Conference on Sustainable Cold Chain in Paris (April 2013).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ubifrance.com/in/Posts-7047-An-Indo-French-agreement-to-reinforce-cooperation-in-the-cold-chain-expertise|title=An Indo-French agreement to reinforce cooperation in the cold chain expertise|access-date=6 October 2013|archive-date=10 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610224400/http://www.ubifrance.com/in/Posts-7047-An-Indo-French-agreement-to-reinforce-cooperation-in-the-cold-chain-expertise|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prlog.org/12108276-india-is-guest-of-honor-at-international-cold-chain-conference-in-paris.html|title=India is Guest of Honor at International Cold chain Conference in Paris}}</ref> In July 2015 he was invited as a global expert to speak on the Global Food Crisis at the [[House of Lords]] in UK.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/ranisingh/2015/08/12/without-cooling-most-modern-society-would-crumble-says-cold-chain-expert-pawanexh-kohli|title=Without Cooling, Most Modern Society Would Crumble}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dearman.co.uk/#!Sustainably-Meeting-the-Global-Food-Crisis/ccrp/558a742d0cf20d45521c45c1|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016011154/http://www.dearman.co.uk/#!Sustainably-Meeting-the-Global-Food-Crisis/ccrp/558a742d0cf20d45521c45c1|url-status=usurped|archive-date=16 October 2015|title=Sustainably Meeting the Global Food Crisis}}</ref> He was regularly invited to lecture at the national academy for Indian administration services and the National Defence College from 2017 to 2022.

Kohli was a member of various national committees and councilor to industry organisations and is [[chairman]] of the national Committee on Supply chain and Logistics,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://nhm.nic.in/NCCD/Committees.html |title=Committees in NCCD |accessdate=12 January 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130818012730/http://nhm.nic.in/NCCD/Committees.html |archivedate=18 August 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.crosstree.info/Documents/LT-Aug12-Report.pdf|title=Cold Chain draws Govt attention (New Initiative)|date=August 2012}}</ref> the first such committee set up with a focus on the supply chain by the government. He also co-chaired committees on Human Resource Development and Research & Development for cold chain. He was the principal member of the Indian government's Committee for Doubling Farmers' Income, set up in 2016, where his innovative percepts provoked a paradigm shift in how agricultural supply chain systems are understood. He has authored a number of policy documents and a key contributor to many game changing policies in the cold chain domain. His status as a [[thought leader]] is acknowledged in various Task Forces and Committees on agricultural marketing and logistics. The various critical revisions he brought to the country's policies on cold chain and Acts in respect to agri-logistics. His actions inspired the [[National Archives of India|National Archives]] to place the history of the yet fledgling NCCD on record, in 2018.

In 2018, the [[University of Birmingham]] conferred Kohli the title of Honorary Professor.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/latest/2018/11/cold-chain-expert-appointed-to-professorship.aspx|title=University of Birmingham appoints Indian cold chain expert to professorship|date=November 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.businessworld.in/article/UK-university-appoints-Indian-cold-chain-expert-as-honorary-professor/13-11-2018-164065|title=UK University Appoints Indian Cold Chain Expert As Honorary Professor|date=13 November 2018}}</ref> After leading NCCD for eight years, on 31 January 2020, Kohli demitted office of CEO of NCCD and resigned from position of Chief Advisor to Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare of India.<ref>{{cite web|title = CEO NCCD demits office|url = http://NCCD.gov.in/Objective.htmlhttps://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/nccd-ceo-pawanexh-kohli-to-demit-office-a-few-days-before-term-ends-120013100090_1.html|publisher = Business Standard newspaper}}{{Dead link|date=September 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title = Open Letter of Farewell by CEO | url = https://www.facebook.com/NCCD.India/posts/1372323469596499|publisher=National Centre for Cold-chain Development}}</ref>
After demitting office, Kohli has been Senior Advisor to the Asian Development Bank and as Senior Advisor to the United Nations to guide initiatives in their Environment Programme and for [[cold chain]] development that focuses on uplifting smallholder farmers. He was also among those who provided relevant strategies, during the Covid19 pandemic, for vaccine distribution.

==Honors and awards==
In December 2010 he was acknowledged in his individual capacity, as the "Cold Chain Personality of the Year"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kpmg.com/IN/en/Press%20Release/Excellence_in_Food_Business-Emerging_Landscape.pdf|title=KPMG Food Excellence Awards}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fnbnews.com/article/detarchive.asp?articleid=29069&sectionid=32 |title=Pawanexh Kohli is "Cold Chain Personality of the Year" (FNB News) |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610221310/http://www.fnbnews.com/article/detarchive.asp?articleid=29069&sectionid=32 |archivedate=2015-06-10 }}</ref> by an expert panel hosted by KPMG-Supply Chain Leadership Council. The award was in appreciation for individual contributions to the industry and for aligning focus on the socio-economic fabric in India.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.crosstree.info/Documents/Excellence_in_Food_Business_Criteria_2.pdf|title=Cold chain Personality Award Criteria}}</ref>

In 2012 he was applauded with the "[[Thought leadership|Exemplary Thought Leadership Award]]" by the ICE Centre of Excellence in India. In 2014 he won the prestigious [[Agribusiness]] Leadership Award at the annual Agriculture Leadership Summit in New Delhi.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiagri.in/read-on.aspx?id=6632|title=Kohli bags Agriculture Leadership Award 2014}}</ref> In 2016, ISHRAE lauded him as honorary lifetime member, their first ever. He is expert member of the Empowered Committee in the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy for implementation of Montreal Protocol and on the Global Advisory Committee of the [[International Solar Alliance]] (ISA)

In India, he is recognised as one among the few eminent persons from the private sector who have shifted over to public service by taking on specialist advisory roles in government.<ref name="PPShift" /> His authored documents are frequently cited in the cold chain domain. He is recipient of various recognition and achievement awards from the cold chain industry in India.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.ruralmarketing.in/interview/agriculture/cold-chain-can-empower-producers Cold Chain Can Empower Producers]
* [http://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/faster-movement-of-refrigerated-vans-on-anvil-113063000297_1 Faster movement of refrigerated vans on anvil] (Business Standard News Article)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20140415122406/http://www.asianfoodreg.com/blog/?p=797 Cold Chain in India], Asian Food Regulation Information Service
* [http://newsletter.ciilogistics.com/june2011/3w/nlfull.htm#article CII Institute of logistics] (Article on Cold chain)
* [http://www.fruitnet.com/eurofruit/article/15538/india-perishables-supply-chain-failing India perishables supply chain "failing"] (October 2012 at Cool Logistics Global)
* [http://www.millenniumpost.in/NewsContent.aspx?NID=69880 'RVC to help in removing bottlenecks to curb perishable goods prices']
* [http://www.i-newswire.com/india-s-national-centre-for-cold/189513 Newswire Release]
* [http://www.prlog.org/12113556-nccd-india-and-cemafroid-france-sign-mou-for-cold-chain-development.html NCCD (India) and Cemafroid (France) sign MOU for Cold-chain Development]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20131006233831/http://www.energycentre.in/about.html Energy Centre - RGREP of HAREDA]
* [http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/logistics/supply-gap-high-in-refrigerated-vans-pack-houses-ncccd/article6622250.ece Supply gap high in refrigerated vans, pack houses: NCCD]
* [http://agriexchange.apeda.gov.in/news/Newssearch.aspx?newsid=17530&Date=15Sep2014 Government launches toll free number for perishable food transporters]
* [http://www.ruralmarketing.in/news/agriculture/nabard-nccd-to-streamline-cold-chain-infra-development Nabard, NCCD to streamline cold chain infra development]
* [https://www.forbes.com/sites/ranisingh/2015/07/16/indias-cold-chain-needs-to-get-moving Effective Cold chains help Productivity]
* [http://www.indiancooperative.com/agriculture-2/refrigerated-transport-balyan-for-farm-to-fork-connectivity Refrigerated transport: Balyan for farm-to-fork connectivity]
* [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/marc-van-ameringen/the-middle-class-are-urba_b_8243066.html The Middle Class Are Urbanizing at a Rapid Speed, Can the Global Food System Keep Up?]
* [http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=126641 In Future, Development Focus Needs to be More on Modern Pack-Houses and Refrigerated Transport]
* [http://www.ruralmarketing.in/news/agriculture/nccd-report-highlights-missing-links-in-agri-logistics NCCD report highlights missing links in agri-logistics]
* [https://indiacsr.in/cooling-for-community-living/ Community Cooling Concept by Pawanexh Kohli]
* [https://www.freepressjournal.in/business/post-covid-19-dont-go-back-to-old-ways-but-look-at-rural-india-more-seriously-says-ex-ceo-nccd Post-COVID 19: Don’t go back to old ways, says ex-CEO NCCD]
* [https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/world/coronavirus-pandemic-countries-must-prepare-sustainable-logistics-to-deliver-covid-19-vaccine-expert-5082711.html Coronavirus pandemic | Countries must prepare sustainable logistics to deliver COVID-19 vaccine]
* [https://www.eco-business.com/opinion/prepare-now-to-sustainably-deliver-the-covid-19-vaccine/ Prepare now to sustainably deliver the Covid-19 vaccine]

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kohli, Pawanexh}}
[[Category:1963 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People in agriculture]]
[[Category:Indian business theorists]]
[[Category:Development specialists]]
[[Category:Sea captains]]
[[Category:Scholars from Ludhiana]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian economists]]
[[Category:Indian agricultural economists]]

Pawanexh Kohli - Revision history

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