For the first time in its 130-year history, the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) will host its General Assembly and Global Cooperative Conference in India. This historic event is being organized on the initiative of IFFCO and is scheduled to take place from November 25 to 30, 2024, at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.
The decision to hold the conference in India was approved by the ICA Board of Directors following IFFCO's proposal during the ICA Investor Board meeting in Brussels on June 28, 2023. Additionally, during a meeting at the United Nations Headquarters, it was decided that the conference will mark the official launch of 2025 as the United Nations International Year of Cooperatives.
Union Cooperative Minister Amit Shah will inaugurate the conference and preside over the inaugural session. A commemorative postage stamp celebrating the International Year of Cooperatives 2025 will also be released during the event. The announcement was made at a press conference in Delhi, attended by ICA Director General Jaron Douglas, Central Cooperative Secretary Dr. Ashish Kumar Bhutani, and IFFCO Managing Director Dr. Uday Shankar Awasthi.
IFFCO Managing Director Dr. Uday Shankar Awasthi said that the conference's theme, "Cooperatives are the Gateway to Prosperity for All," aims to advance a secure and thriving cooperative movement. The event will address future developments and reforms in the sector. Additionally, a "Haat" showcasing Indian cooperative products and services will be featured, with the theme centered on the Indian Village. The 6-day event will serve only vegetarian food. Dr. Awasthi noted that India, with approximately 800,000 cooperatives, represents a significant portion of the global 3 million cooperatives, playing a crucial role in agriculture and related sectors.
ICA Director General Jeroen Douglas said that the conference will focus on the theme "Cooperatives: Gateway to Prosperity for All." The sub-themes will include: empowering the policy and entrepreneurial ecosystem, fostering purposeful leadership for widespread prosperity, re-establishing cooperative identity, and shaping a prosperous future in the 21st century.
Douglas also noted that IFFCO, a major ICA partner, has been ranked first in the World Cooperative Monitor Ranking for three consecutive years. The conference will feature the Prime Minister of Bhutan, the President of the United Nations Economic Council, the ICA President, UN representatives, and over 1,500 delegates from more than 100 countries.
Union Cooperative Secretary Dr. Ashish Kumar Bhutani highlighted that the conference theme aligns with the Government of India's slogan, "Prosperity through Cooperation." Since the Ministry of Cooperation was established, 54 new initiatives have been launched under Union Cooperative Minister Amit Shah’s leadership to advance the cooperative movement, including PACS computerization and the formation of new cooperative societies. These efforts are positioning India as one of the fastest-growing countries in the global cooperative sector.
This landmark conference aims to further the global cooperative movement and underscore the significant role of cooperatives in fostering prosperity worldwide.