ICA-AP Participates in ASEAN Cooperative Dialogue 2025
The ASEAN Cooperative Dialogue (ACD) 2025 took place from 13 to 14 May 2025 at the Sunway Resort Hotel, Malaysia, with the theme “Cooperatives Build a Better World.” Hosted by ANGKASA, in collaboration with the ASEAN Cooperative Organization (ACO), the event marked a major highlight of the International Year of Cooperatives 2025 (IYC 2025) and Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship year, positioning cooperatives as critical agents of regional resilience and inclusive development.
Over 200 participants from ASEAN cooperative apex bodies, government ministries, development agencies, and cooperative organizations came together for two days of dialogue, showcasing policy alignment, enterprise innovation, and people-powered solutions. The event provided a valuable platform for strengthening regional ties through cooperative action.
Opening Ceremony: Setting the Tone
Datuk Seri Dr. Abdul Fattah Abdullah, President of ANGKASA, President of ACO, and ICA-AP Vice President, presided over the Opening Ceremony. He welcomed delegates and affirmed the role of cooperatives in realizing ASEAN’s sustainable development agenda. In his address, Datuk Abdullah urged greater recognition for cooperatives within the ASEAN and said that the bloc must work together to ensure that cooperatives are treated as a core pillar of ASEAN’s economic development. YB Datuk Ewon Benedick, Malaysia’s Minister of Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development, in his keynote address, called for stronger ASEAN-level mechanisms to mainstream cooperatives into regional economic frameworks. He said, “Cooperatives play a crucial role in economic empowerment. They provide employment, promote entrepreneurship, and contribute significantly to gross domestic product across various member states.”
ASEAN Cooperative Forum (ACF): Voices from the Field
The first day’s ASEAN Cooperative Forum (ACF) featured three thematic sessions:
Forum 1: “Stronger Together” focused on the role of cooperatives in poverty eradication and community resilience and was moderated by Dr. Hajah Hayati Md Salleh. Panelists included Ms. Ubonwan Pattanalap and Dr. Jedsadaporn Sathapatyanon from Thailand’s Cooperative Promotion Department (CPD), and Mr. Ilham Nasai from Indonesia’s Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs. The speakers from CPD highlighted the role of cooperatives in strengthening food security and three pillars through which the agricultural cooperatives contribute: availability (efficient food production), accessibility (better access to markets and credits), and sustainability (community support and participation). Mr. Nasai stressed the institutional transformation (organization and business) strategy underway to transform farmer groups into agricultural cooperatives and make them into economically viable entities.
Forum 2: “Sustainable Growth of Cooperatives” examined the scaling of cooperative enterprises in finance, retail, and services. Moderated by Tan Sri Abu Kassim bin Mohamed, the session featured Mr. Glenn Medez of NATCCO (Philippines), who presented on digital inclusion strategies and the social and economic impact of cooperatives. He also stressed the importance of youth engagement, climate-smart development, and regional cooperation. Mr. Khairil Anuar Mohammad Anuar, CEO of Co-opbank Pertama, spoke on the challenges faced by cooperatives (governance, competition, digital gaps, demography, misconceptions,..) and the need for banking innovation and outreach to underserved communities. According to him, the key strategies for sustainable development include collaborating and encouraging M&A, green finance, digitalization, engagement of youth, and data to track outcomes.
Forum 3: “Way Forward for Cooperatives in ASEAN”, moderated by Mr. Azizul Alias of KUSKOP, focused on policy and strategic directions. Mr. Balasubramanian Iyer, Regional Director of ICA-AP, emphasized the need to improve perception about cooperatives, using the IYC 2025 to raise awareness; promote trade and finance across the ASEAN region; engage youth in cooperatives; recognize and advance women’s representation and leadership; and enhance knowledge sharing. Prof. Tan Sri Dr. Noor Azlan Ghazali (UKM) underscored ASEAN’s macroeconomic potential if cooperative models were integrated into national growth strategies. He said that to build a stronger ASEAN through cooperatives, there was a need to mainstream cooperatives, organize regional dialogue and meets, advance cooperatives, scale up cooperatives, cross-border cooperatives, and cooperative data and research.
Anchoring Policy Commitment
On 14 May, the ASEAN Cooperative High-Level Discussion (ACHLD) convened leaders to discuss the long-term integration of cooperatives into ASEAN’s post-2025 roadmap.
Picture credit: ANGKASA
Mr. Iyer (ICA-AP) and Mr. Robby Tulus (INKUR, Indonesia) delivered keynote addresses, highlighting cooperatives as tools for rebuilding trust, reducing inequality, and promoting social capital in an era of climate and geopolitical instability. The panel, moderated by Mr. Nordin Abdullah, Vice President of AustCham ASEAN, brought forward candid reflections on governance gaps, funding mechanisms, and the need for digital transformation to remain relevant to new generations.
Product Showcase and Resolution Handover
The ASEAN Cooperative Product Showcase (ACPS) ran concurrently throughout the event, offering visibility to products and services by cooperatives from across the region. It enabled cross-border trade, solidarity partnerships, and awareness about cooperative enterprises.
At the Closing Dinner, a highlight was the formal handover of the ACHLD 2025 Joint Resolution to YB Dato’ Sri Ramanan Ramakrishnan, Deputy Minister of Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development. The resolution called for the institutionalization of ACO as the official secretariat to drive the cooperative movement in ASEAN, the establishment of a dedicated ministry or a national-level body for cooperatives, recognition of cooperatives as an engine of growth in ASEAN countries, and the establishment of the ASEAN Cooperative Leadership Institute.
The Dialogue reaffirmed that cooperatives are not fringe players, but essential builders of a better world. With shared values of solidarity, equity, and democracy, ASEAN’s cooperative movement is better positioned than ever to address today’s challenges and shape tomorrow’s regional integration story.
Watch the event highlights here.
