The Trade Dialogue titled “Empowering Cooperatives through Digital Transformation: E-commerce and Big Data” was held on September 2 and 3, 2024 at Zhongwei Green Lake Hotel, Kunming, Yunnan Province, China. Organized by the Trade and Business Committee, the event focused on the transformative potential of e-commerce, Big Data, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) for cooperatives.

The opening ceremony featured key addresses from Mr. Yi Zong, Vice President of the Board of Supervisors at the All-China Federation of Supply and Marketing Cooperatives (ACFSMC), Datuk Seri Dr. Abdul Fattah Abdullah, Vice President of ICA-AP and President of the Malaysian National Co-operative Movement (ANGKASA), Mr. Balasubramanian (Balu) G. Iyer, Regional Director of ICA-AP, and Mr. Ligui He, Director of Yunnan Provincial Coop.

The first session, moderated by Mr. Balu Iyer, explored e-commerce for cooperative growth with insights from panelists – Ms. Christie Rowena Corpuz Plantilla (Philippines, FPSDC), Mr. Cheng Haixing (Singapore, FairPrice Group), and Mr. Lim Sungwoo (Korea, NACF). The second session focused on Big Data, moderated by Mr. Alireza Banaeifar (Iran, ICC), featuring presentations from Mr. Muhammad Hudhaifa Ahmad (Malaysia, MDS), Mr. Paritosh Paudyal (Nepal, NCF), and Ms. Yuemin Chen (China, CCECL). The final session, on AI, was moderated by Ms. Xiaohong Zhang (China, ACFSMC) and included Mr. Cheng Haixing (Singapore, FairPrice Group), Mr. Sumitani Noboru (Japan, JCCU), and Ms. Luna Xue (China, CNAMPGC) as key speakers.

The seminar was attended by 40 participants from 20 organizations across 14 countries, including India, China, Malaysia, Palestine, Vietnam, the Philippines, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Iran, Korea, Thailand, Singapore, and Japan. The discussions emphasized how integrating e-commerce, Big Data, and AI can drive sustainable growth and operational efficiency for cooperatives.

Visit and Discussions with Local Cooperative Enterprises

On September 3, a significant discussion was held in Kunming, China, focusing on the need for cooperatives in the Asia-Pacific region to explore new opportunities in the e-commerce industry. The meeting underscored the importance of leveraging innovative technology and business strategies to meet the increasing global demand and enhance market reach.

During the visit to Yunnan Supply and Marketing Electronic Commerce Co., Ltd., it was emphasized that cooperatives must embrace e-commerce to connect local producers with international markets. Big Data was highlighted as a key tool for improving market access and operational efficiency. Yunnan Supply and Marketing Electronic Commerce Co., Ltd. has been active in the e-commerce sector since 2016, specializing in the online sale and distribution of agricultural products and daily necessities.

Presentations were also given by Yunnan SaBaiDee Coffee Co., Ltd. and Wild Mushroom Supply Chain. These enterprises shared insights on how they are benefiting from e-commerce. The discussions and presentations reflected a collective effort to enhance cooperative growth through digital transformation and innovative business practices.

Visit to Songming County Flower Cooperative and Yunnan Mushroom Biotechnology Co., Ltd.

On September 4, a delegation of 36 participants from 16 organizations representing 13 countries visited the Songming County Flower Cooperative and Yunnan Mushroom Biotechnology Co., Ltd.

At Songming County Flower Cooperative, located in the Da Cun Community, the delegation toured a 400-acre orchid cultivation site focused on research and development in orchid breeding technology. The cooperative also uses the Douyin social media platform for marketing and is one of Kunming’s leading orchid growers.

The Yunnan Mushroom Biotechnology Co., Ltd., is a facility covering 250.77 acres and producing up to 10 tons of fresh mushrooms daily. The company is the exclusive distributor of Golden Ear Mushrooms and exports over 85% of its production internationally.

The visits provided valuable insights into innovative agricultural practices and business opportunities in the region.