The Sugar Technologists’ Association of India (STAI) is set to host its 83rd Annual Convention and International Sugar Expo 2025 from 24th to 26th July 2025 at the iconic Bharat Mandapam Convention Centre, New Delhi.
This year’s edition holds exceptional importance as the Association marks its Centenary Year, celebrating 100 years of dedicated service to the Indian sugar and allied industries. Since its establishment in 1925, STAI has been a key driver of research, innovation, and capacity building across the sector.
The three-day Convention will bring together over 1,000 delegates from across India and abroad, including mill owners, technologists, engineers, researchers, agronomists, and policymakers. The event will feature high-level deliberations on current challenges and future opportunities in the sugar and bioenergy sectors.
The International Sugar Expo 2025, being held alongside the Convention, will showcase cutting-edge technologies and solutions by 115 leading technology providers from India and overseas. Exhibits will cover a wide range of areas including sugar machinery, ethanol production, co-generation power, green hydrogen, pollution control, and agri-equipment.
Nitin Gadkari, Hon’ble Minister of Road Transport & Highways, Government of India will inaugurate the International Sugar Expo 2025 on 24th July 2025. The other dignitaries that will grace the occasion are :
- Sharad Pawar, Hon`ble Member of Parliament
- Ashwani Srivastava, Joint Secretary – Sugar, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Govt of India
- Ranjit Puri, Chairman, Saraswati Sugar Mills Ltd and Isgec Heavy Engineering Ltd
- Sanjay Awasthi, President, The Sugar Technologists Association of India
- Murugesh Nirani, Chairman – MRN Goup and Former Industries Minister, Govt of Karnataka
- Jayant Patil, Director, Rajaram Babu SSK Ltd, Member of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, former Minister of Finance & Home
- Tarun Sawhney, Vice Chairman and Managing Director – Triveni Engineering & Industries Ltd.
India today is not only the largest sugar producing country in the world but also a dominant player in the world sugar equipment market. Today 50% of the world sugar equipment market is dominated by the Indian original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).
Pralhad Joshi, Hon`ble Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Govt of India on 25th July 2025 will formally inaugurate the 83rd Annual Convention. The following dignitaries that will grace the inaugural ceremony are
- Ranjit Puri, Chairman, Saraswati Sugar Mills Ltd and Isgec Heavy Engineering Ltd
- Sanjay Awasthi, President, The Sugar Technologists Association of India
- Seema Paroha, Director, National Sugar Institute, Kanpur
- Sambhaji Kadu Patil, Director General, Vasantdada Sugar Institute, Pune
- Murugesh Nirani, Chairman – MRN Goup and Former Industries Minister, Govt of Karnataka
- Jayant Patil, Director, Rajaram Babu SSK Ltd, Member of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, former Minister of Finance & Home
- Harshvardhan Patil, Chairman, National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories Ltd.
- N. Chinnapan, President, The South Indian Sugarcane and Sugar Technologists Association
The Convention will feature keynote addresses, Memorial Lectures, and a high-level Panel Discussion on the theme – Integrated Bio-Refineries: The Future of Indian Sugar Mills” – Focus on Converting mills into multi-product biorefineries – ethanol, bio-CNG, liquid sugar & green hydrogen. The eminent panelists during the session are :
- Seema Paroha, Director National Sugar Institute, Kanpur
- Sanjay Awasthi, President, The Sugar Technologists Association of India
- Sanjay Desai, M.D. Regreen Excel EPC India Ltd
- R.K. Gangwar, M.D. Mawana Sugars Ltd
- Moderator – R.L. Tamak, ED & CEO, DCM Shriram Ltd
Memorial Lectures –
- SN Gundurao Memorial Lecture by S.C. Sharma, Regional Director, Mehta Group (Uganda) on on “Integrated Approach for Investment in Sugar Industry”
- Mangal Singh Memorial Lecture by Dr. Seema Paroha, Director, NSI Kanpur on “Sustainable valorization of sugar industry by-products”
During the event, 81 research papers will be presented by experts, showcasing innovations in sugar production, energy conservation, co-products, and automation.
Highlighting India’s leadership in biofuel space which is important for the nation energy security, STAI President Sanjay Awasthi remarked “The Indian sugar industry is undergoing a major transformation. The country achieved a significant milestone in June 2025 by attaining a 20% national average ethanol blending rate (E20), six years ahead of schedule. The industry is now targeting 30% blending with petrol by 2030”.
Awasthi further emphasized that “enhanced ethanol production would significantly reduce crude oil imports, save foreign exchange, improve farmer incomes, and support India’s net-zero goals”.
Distribution of Awards
STAI recognizes the contribution of eminent industry professionals towards the growth and development of the Indian sugar industry. To encourage original research work and innovation in sugar allied industries, the Association confers prestigious awards including the Lifetime Achievement Award, Industry Excellence Award, and various gold medals recognizing excellence in engineering, research, energy conservation, and innovation.
