Jacob Mani Mannothra - Founder Zindia USA

I post graduated in Agronomy, started my career as a scientist with Spices Board, then Rubber Research Institute of India and finally heading the R&D Centre of United Planters Association of Southern India. 

As a scientist I managed the research on multi cropping in rubber plantations with medicinal herbs, food crops and organic farming, then worked on GIS for Rubber plantations with India’s Space Application Center (ISRO). Was an advisor to the board of Agricultural & Processed Food Products Export Development Authority of India (APEDA) .

Headed the award-wining Indian Government Task force/Global Rubberwood project of ITC/UNCTAD/WTO which succeeded in promoting rubberwood as an ecofriendly furniture timber.

Lead the development of the Indian market for New Zealand Pine from 1997, and New Zealand governments India Pine Export Network. Relentlessly promoted the usage of NZ pine nationwide in India through networking with architects, end users, and through media and national exhibitions.

I was a member of New Zealand’s Prime Minister Sir John Key’s delegation to India in 2011 and 2016 and that of deputy Prime Minster Hon. Winston Peters trade delegation in 2020.

Owned and managed about 10,000 acres of pine plantations in Marlborough Sounds.

Developed three new Indian ports for pine exports (Mundra in the north, Tuticorin in the south and Kolkata in the east for NZ pine), making Zindia group one of the largest exporters for softwood logs, lumber and MDF. Today we export forest products from USA, Uruguay, Argentina , South Africa, Germany and Australia.

A frequent speaker on the Indian wood market at conferences organized by World Forestry Center in USA and FEA in Canada.

Jacob Mannothra
Founder – Zindia USA