International Cooperative Alliance Asia and Pacific

2025 International Women’s Day Message by Ms. Chitose Arai

Emphasizing this year’s theme, Ms. Chitose Arai encourages cooperators to continue giving more opportunities to women to participate, especially young women and emerging women leaders, to speak up, to capacitate them to lead and make decisions, to strengthen their capacities, and to sensitize them about their rights.

IYC 2025 Launched in Asia-Pacific

On 19 February 2025, around 700 cooperators (250 in person and 450 online) gathered to kick off the International Year of Cooperatives (IYC) 2025 with a prestigious event at the United Nations University in Tokyo, Japan. The event, co-hosted by the ICA-AP, the IYC2025 Japan Committee, and the ILO Office for Japan, celebrated and reinforced the role of cooperatives in sustainable development.

Parallel Event at NGO CSW 69 Forum

On 19 March 2025, ICA-AP and its Committee on Women will organize a virtual parallel event at the NGO Commission on Status of Women (CSW) 69 Forum on “Policy Actions Matter: Cooperatives in Asia-Pacific and Their Initiatives to Foster SDG 5 (Gender Equality)” to showcase cooperative initiatives in the AP region to foster SDG 5.

17th ICA-AP Regional Assembly

The ICA-AP 17th Regional Assembly and the elections of the new Regional Board will be held in Sri Lanka from 24 to 28 November 2025. The Regional Assembly and side events will be centered around the theme of the 2025 UN International Year of Cooperatives (IYC 2025), “Cooperatives Build a Better World”, and will see a culmination of activities undertaken by the Regional Office.
Stay tuned for more updates!

IYC 2025 Message from ICA-AP President

Dr. Chandrapal Singh Yadav, ICA-AP President, in his 11-point agenda, encourages all cooperators to celebrate, participate, and collaborate as we mark the International Year of Cooperatives 2025.

About ICA-AP

Established in 1960 in New Delhi, India, International Cooperative Alliance Asia and Pacific (ICA-AP) is one of the four regional offices of the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA). With a rich history spanning over six decades, we unite, promote, and develop cooperatives in the Asia and Pacific region. We proudly represent and serve a network of 114 members from 29 countries (January 2025) across varied economic sectors. Through the promotion of cooperative identity, advocacy, collaboration, and capacity building, we strive to empower cooperatives to thrive and fulfil their potential as drivers of sustainable development, social inclusion, and economic prosperity.