The International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) General Assembly and the Global Cooperative Conference 2024 is scheduled to take place from November 25th to November 30th, 2024, at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.  It will be for the first time in the 130 years long history of International Cooperative Alliance (ICA), the premier body for the Global Cooperative movement, the ICA General Assembly and Global Cooperative Conference are going to be hosted by India.  The details of the upcoming events were elaborated in a joint press conference by Union Cooperation Secretary, Dr Ashish Kumar Bhutani, Director General of ICA, Mr Jeroen Douglas and Managing Director of IFFCO Ltd, Dr. U S Awasthi, in New Delhi today.

The theme for this year’s conference is “Cooperatives Build Prosperity for All,” which is in line with the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Sahkar se Samriddhi’. The Conference will also mark the official launch of the UN International Year of Cooperatives – 2025. A commemorative stamp celebrating the International Year of Cooperatives – 2025 will be launched during the event. The Conference will be used to showcase Indian Cooperatives’ products and services in the ‘Haat’ setup with the theme of Indian Villages.

Addressing the Press Conference, Dr Ashish Kumar Bhutani, Secretary, Ministry of Cooperation said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and the guidance of Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah, a separate Ministry of Cooperation was formed to take forward the movement of Cooperatives in India to newer heights. Dr Bhutani said that India boasts of 1/4th of the Cooperatives in the World, both number wise as well as member wise. He informed that the Indian Cooperative Sector has achieved new milestones with the launch of 54 new initiatives of the Ministry of Cooperation for the growth and development of cooperative movement. Dr. Bhutani said that the biggest change that has been brought about in the Indian Cooperative system was the implementation of PACS model bye laws. He said that be it the computerization of PACS or formation of three new cooperatives in the sectors where cooperatives didn’t have a national level presence, namely, National Cooperative Organics Ltd. (NCOL), National Cooperative Exports Ltd (NCEL) and Bharatiya Beej Sahkari Samiti Ltd (BBSSL), or the other initiatives, these have put India at the forefront of the Global Cooperative movement with India becoming one of the fast-growing cooperative sectors. Dr. Bhutani added that the idea of “Sahkar se Samridhi” will now spread to the whole world with organisation of this international event in New Delhi.

Mr Jeroen Douglas, Director General of ICA, emphasized the importance of the conference going to be held in India, which has been the founding member of ICA.  Highlighting the roles of Ministry of Cooperation and IFFCO and other cooperatives, Mr Douglas said that India has been playing a pivotal role in the Global Cooperative Movement. He termed IFFCO as a significant partner with its ranking as No. 1 in the World Cooperative Monitor for three consecutive years. Mr Douglas added that there are about 3 million cooperatives in the World with over a billion members from virtually all the UN member countries. He said in terms of scalability of sustainability, cooperative movement proves itself to be the most scalable sustainable model among all. In 200 years of track record, it has reached out to over one eighth of humanity and India is the proud champion in terms of numbers of cooperatives in the country, at present, and their further scope of expansion. Mr Jeroen Douglas said that the World saddles at a tipping point and is poised to witness a series of crisis, viz. climate crisis, biodiversity crisis and many others. He said that it is through the models of cooperatives we will be able to find solutions to many of our problems. He said through it is the principles of cooperatives, being democratically let enterprises, with a fair value distribution to its members, with openness to every participant, regardless of gender, ethnicity, country, age, and also the value system of cooperation among cooperatives, taking care of communities, that the world can find solutions to its existing problems.

Dr. U S Awasthi, MD, IFFCO Ltd. said that under the guidance of Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah IFFCO’s subsidiary IFFDC has been among the leading earners of Carbon Credits in the past years. He said that Indian Cooperative movement has always been culturally motivated to protect the environment and in continuation with this legacy of Indian Cooperative Movement, this Event will be Carbon neutral. Dr. Awasthi added that for compensation of possible carbon emissions, ten thousand Peepal (Ficus Religiosa) saplings will be planted. He emphasized the role of Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah in increasing the number of Peepal plantation. Dr. Awasthi told that to achieve Carbon neutrality around 4000 trees were needed to be planted, however, the Cooperation Minister Shri Amit Shah insisted on planting 10,000 tree for the well-being of all and that too Peepal trees which are good carbon absorbents.

Hon’ble Prime Minster of Bhutan, President of United Nations Economic Council (UN ECOSOC), President of International Cooperative Alliance, UN Representatives, ICA Members, Luminaries from the Indian Cooperative Movement will be among the 1500 distinguish guests representing over 100 countries are expected to participate in this event.

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RK/VV/ASH/PS