Hyderabad, May 28, 2025: For the first time in the 64-year history of the International Corrugated Case Association (ICCA)—the global apex body representing the corrugated packaging industry—two Indians have been appointed to top leadership positions. Both hail from Hyderabad.
Mr. ML Agarwal, Chairman of Central India Packaging and a well-known industrialist, has been elected as the Chairman of the ICCA Board of Directors. This historic appointment marks the first time an Indian, and a Hyderabadi, has assumed this prestigious global role.
In addition, Mr. Ankit Agarwal, Managing Director of Central India Packaging, has been appointed as the India Director on the ICCA Board. He is also the Vice President of the Federation of Corrugated Box Manufacturers of India (FCBM).
These landmark appointments were made at the recently concluded ICCA Bi-Annual Global Summit in Osaka, Japan, which was graced by the Hon’ble Prime Minister of Japan, Mr. Shigeru Ishiba, as the Chief Guest. The ICCA Annual General Meeting was also held alongside the summit.
In a major win for India, Hyderabad has been chosen to host the Global Summit of the Corrugated Box Industry in January 2027, an achievement made possible by the efforts of both Mr. ML Agarwal and Mr. Ankit Agarwal. This will place Telangana and India firmly on the global industrial map, particularly in the eco-friendly packaging sector.
ICCA, a USA-based global body founded in 1961, represents the worldwide corrugated packaging industry and promotes sustainable, recyclable packaging solutions. Historically, its leadership has come from North America, Europe, Japan, Taiwan, Australia, and Canada.
Mr. ML Agarwal has a distinguished track record, having served as Past President of FCBM, the Asian Corrugated Case Association, and FAPCCI (now FTCCI).
Mr. Ankit Agarwal noted, “Corrugated packaging is an eco-friendly solution with discarded cardboard packaging like shipping boxes and containers being recycled into paper, making it a sustainable packaging option for a wide range of industries.”
The global corrugated box packaging market, valued at USD 170.96 billion in 2024, is projected to reach USD 179.5 billion in 2025, growing at a CAGR of 5.1% through 2030. The market is driven by demand from food & beverage, electronics, pharmaceuticals, engineering, automobiles, and especially the e-commerce sectors.
India, in particular, is poised to be a key growth driver for the global industry over the next decade. The Indian market, currently valued at USD 7.8 billion, is expected to reach USD 18.6 billion by 2033, growing at a robust CAGR of 9.6%. Factors contributing to this growth include rising e-commerce activity, organised retail, and increased demand from the food, pharma, and FMCG sectors.
These milestones reflect Hyderabad’s rising stature as an industrial hub and its growing influence on the global packaging landscape.