Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah will address the ‘National Symposium on Cooperative Exports’ organised by the National Cooperative for Exports Limited (NCEL) on Monday, October 23 in New Delhi. Shri Amit Shah will also launch the logo, website and brochure of NCEL and distribute the membership certificates to NCEL members. Awide range of issues including channelising cooperatives for linkages to export markets, potential of Indian agri-exports and opportunities for cooperatives among others will be discussed in the symposium.

The NCEL came into existence after Shri Amit Shah put an emphasis for the need to establish a national-level multi-state cooperative society to function as an umbrella organisation for exports by the cooperative sector. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and able guidance of Minister of Cooperation, the Ministry of Cooperation has taken 54 initiatives in the last 27 months to strengthen cooperative movement in the country. Setting up a national-level Cooperative to promote export through cooperatives is one of such initiatives which is an important step towards realising Modi Government’s vision of“Sahakar se Samriddhi”.  

The National Cooperative for Exports Limited is the newly established umbrella organisation for cooperative sector exports registered under Multi-State Co-operative Societies Act, 2002 on 25^th January, 2023.It covers agriculture and allied activities as well as handloom and handicrafts items by enrolling a large number of co-operatives under its fold with a target to double its revenue by 2025 from the current level of about Rs 2,160 crore.

All cooperative societies from the level of primary to apex, who are interested in exports, are eligible to become member of the NCEL which has an authorised share capital of Rs 2,000 crore. It aims to focus on exporting the surpluses available in the Indian cooperative sector by accessing wider markets beyond the geographical contours of the country.

The symposium will commence with a presentation by officials of the Cooperation Ministry on the various initiatives undertaken to strengthen the cooperative sector.The second half of the symposium will comprise technical sessions on a host of topics including channelising cooperatives for linkages to export markets, potential of Indian agri exports and opportunities for cooperatives, making India the dairy hub of the world, and world’s largest grain storage plan in the cooperative sector.

The National Symposium on Cooperative Export will be attended by more than 1000 participants including cooperative members of NCEL, representatives of different cooperative sectors including National Cooperative Federations, representatives of embassies of various countries and Central & State Government Officials. Large number of cooperative members and stakeholders will also join through online mode.   

Four leading co-operatives- Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF - Amul), Indian Farmers’ Fertiliser Cooperative (IFFCO), Krishak Bharti Cooperative (KRIBHCO) and National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) and National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) have jointly promoted NCEL.

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RK/ASH