The 100 NRIs – 2026: Rizwan Adatia, Chairman, COGEF Group and Vision Exports
Rizwan Adatia
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This article forms part of The 100 NRIs, a special edition by Entrepreneur Middle East spotlighting the most influential non-resident Indians shaping business, innovation, and investment across the region.
Rizwan Adatia, Chairman of COGEF Group and Vision Exports, is a highly accomplished entrepreneur with a diverse business portfolio spanning ten African nations and employing over 4,000 people. He is deeply committed to community development, actively engaging at grassroots levels to improve lives within rural communities across Africa and India.
Incorporated in 2007, Vision Exports is a rapidly expanding trading network committed to establishing enduring relationships between buyers and suppliers worldwide. The company’s head office is situated in Dubai with branch offices located in Yiwu, China, and Nairobi, Kenya. Initially focusing exclusively on fulfilling customer requirements within the East African region, Vision Exports has now refined its expertise in cross-trade operations, supported by multiple warehousing facilities globally, thereby enhancing its capacity to meet demands across any part of the world.
Over the years, Vision Exports has also developed an impressive range of in-house products, emphasising durability and value for money. Today, Adatia leads a global business and a not-for-profit organisation with operations across Africa, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, Eswatini, and Madagascar. He oversees a dedicated team that works tirelessly to adopt a multi-sector approach through customised solutions, addressing the needs of marginalised communities. His unwavering commitment has fostered strategic collaborations with like-minded partners, enabling the expansion of community programmes aimed at reducing inequality. His work continues to transform lives by fostering resilience and sustainable growth in some of the world’s most remote and underserved regions.
COGEF is a multinational consumer goods group operating in eight African countries, with activities spanning import/export trade, manufacturing, and retail. Established in Mozambique in 2004 and now with a nationwide presence, COGEF is the leading player in the country’s cash & carry and retail sectors, providing direct exposure to Mozambique’s fast-moving consumer goods industry. With 22 ‘Cash & Carry’ supermarkets, 130 retail-wholesale outlets, four manufacturing units, and over 2,500 employees, COGEF has demonstrated resilience and strategic agility across all segments of its business.
Related: Entrepreneur Middle East Reveals “The 100 NRIs” List
This article forms part of The 100 NRIs, a special edition by Entrepreneur Middle East spotlighting the most influential non-resident Indians shaping business, innovation, and investment across the region.
Rizwan Adatia, Chairman of COGEF Group and Vision Exports, is a highly accomplished entrepreneur with a diverse business portfolio spanning ten African nations and employing over 4,000 people. He is deeply committed to community development, actively engaging at grassroots levels to improve lives within rural communities across Africa and India.
Incorporated in 2007, Vision Exports is a rapidly expanding trading network committed to establishing enduring relationships between buyers and suppliers worldwide. The company’s head office is situated in Dubai with branch offices located in Yiwu, China, and Nairobi, Kenya. Initially focusing exclusively on fulfilling customer requirements within the East African region, Vision Exports has now refined its expertise in cross-trade operations, supported by multiple warehousing facilities globally, thereby enhancing its capacity to meet demands across any part of the world.
