How members celebrated CoopsDay 2025
As part of the UN-declared International Year of Cooperatives 2025, cooperatives across Asia and the Pacific came together on 5th July to celebrate the 103rd International Day of Cooperatives (CoopsDay). Under the global theme “Driving Inclusive and Sustainable Solutions for a Better World”, members across the region used this occasion to reflect on the cooperative identity, showcase local impact, and reaffirm their commitment to people-centred development.
In India, the National Cooperative Union of India (NCUI) hosted a flagship event in New Delhi, which also coincided with the Foundation Day of the Ministry of Cooperation. The celebration was attended by Shri Ravinder Singh (Indraj), Hon’ble Minister of Social Justice and Cooperative, Government of NCT of Delhi. Cooperatives across the country, including KRIBHCO, NAFED, and NYCS, marked the day with creative campaigns and social media visuals centred on farmer empowerment, collective growth, food security, and global unity through cooperation.
A key highlight of India’s celebrations was the inauguration of the Tribhuvan Sahkari University (TSU) in Anand, Gujarat by the Union Minister for Home and Cooperation. TSU is India’s first national cooperative university, envisioned as a cornerstone of the government’s ‘Sahakar se Samriddhi’ (Prosperity through Cooperation) approach to cooperative development through education. Named after Tribhuvandas Kishibhai Patel, the founding chairman of Amul and a pioneer of India’s cooperative movement, the university pays tribute to a legacy that began in Gujarat in 1946 in partnership with Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
In Nepal, the celebrations were particularly meaningful. The Nepal Agricultural Cooperative Central Federation (NACCF) was honoured for its work in rural empowerment and women’s leadership, with a special address by Minister Balaram Adhikari. Alongside NACCF, the National Cooperative Federation (NCF) and the Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation jointly recognised outstanding cooperatives and contributors from across the country. The National Cooperative Bank Limited (NCBL) released a creative aligned with the year’s theme, celebrating the role of consumer cooperatives in shaping a better future.
In Jordan, the Jordan Cooperative Corporation (JCC) marked the day with a message from the Minister of Agriculture and Chairman of the Foundation, His Excellency Eng. Khaled Hanifat, and General Manager Atoufa. Their reflections emphasised the role of cooperatives in sustainable development and community empowerment.
In Palestine, the Cooperative Work Agency shared a message reinforcing the importance of collective effort and cooperation in achieving inclusive development and social equity—an especially resonant call in the current context.
From the Philippines, NATCCO led a livestreamed celebration that included a national broadcast appearance by CEO Sylvia Okinlay-Paraguya, who spoke about the role of cooperatives in enabling sustainability, innovation, and community empowerment. Member organisations such as FPSDC, MASS-SPECC, and 1CISP took to social media to share creative content and messages that underlined the cooperative commitment to grassroots development, social protection, and climate action.
In Singapore, the Singapore National Cooperative Federation (SNCF) marked the occasion with a lively social media campaign featuring cooperators describing their cooperatives in one word. “Empathy,” chosen by a healthcare cooperative, stood out as a powerful expression of cooperative values in action.
Sri Lanka saw wide participation, with messages from the Sanasa Federation, the National Institute of Cooperative Development, and the National Cooperative Council of Sri Lanka. Their posts reflected multilingual outreach and shared pride in the country’s extensive cooperative network, which now includes over 15,000 cooperatives and eight million members. These organisations embraced the 2025 theme with reflections on inclusion, resilience, and national unity.
In Japan, the Japanese Consumers’ Cooperative Union (JCCU) released a powerful message calling for cooperative leadership that is rooted in empathy and action. Their message framed CoopsDay not just as a celebration, but as a collective pledge to support inclusive finance, youth engagement, climate adaptation, and SDG alignment.
Across the board, this year’s CoopsDay served not only as a celebration of the cooperative identity but also as a moment of mobilisation. From policy reflections and ministerial recognitions to grassroots stories and public campaigns, members across the Asia-Pacific region embraced the spirit of 2025 by lifting local voices, strengthening cooperative visibility, and sharing the transformative power of cooperation.