15th Annual Statutory Meeting of ICYC and Youth Talk Show
The ICA-AP Committee on Youth Cooperation (ICYC) convened its 15th Annual Statutory Meeting on 25 November 2025 during the 17th ICA-AP Regional Assembly in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The meeting brought together 10 members onsite and 15 members virtually via Zoom, reflecting the committee’s growing regional engagement.
Earlier in the day, ICYC hosted a vibrant Youth Talk Show, designed in a 90-minute podcast-style interactive format. The session featured an engaging panel comprising Mr. Alireza Banaeifar, Deputy of International Affairs at the Iran Chamber of Cooperatives, ICA-AP Board Member, and former Chairperson of the ICA-AP Youth Committee; Ms. Sreeja Murali, Director, ULCCS India; and Dr. Patrick John Rico, President, Prime Aces College and ICYC member who engaged in an insightful discussion which revolved around four key clusters central to youth concerns and cooperative action: Food Security and Employment; Education, Health, and Gender Equality; Environment, Peace, and Solidarity; and Youth Rights and Participation. Full Video on the Youth Talk Show will be out soon.
The statutory meeting opened with welcome remarks from the office bearers, followed by the Chairperson’s Report delivered by Atty. Dulce Bustamante-Delmo. She highlighted a year marked by Regional Youth Dialogues, Cooperative Study Visits, International Exchanges, and an expanded role of youth in cooperative initiatives across the Asia-Pacific region.
Members unanimously approved the formal renaming of the committee—from the International Cooperative Alliance Asia and Pacific Committee on Youth Cooperation to the ICA-AP Committee on Youth (ICYC)—establishing a clearer and more unified identity.
A key agenda item was the presentation of candidates for the post of 2nd Vice Chairperson, with nominees Mr. Abhishek Kumar (India), Mr. Amirhossein Shahidi (Iran), and Ms. Khitam Al-Mazaydeh (Jordan) sharing their vision for strengthening youth participation within the cooperative movement. Following the election, Mr. Abhishek Kumar secured the highest votes and was elected as the new 2nd Vice Chairperson, with his term extending until the next Regional Assembly in 2027.
During the closing session, Dr. Chandrapal Singh Yadav, President of ICA-AP, delivered a congratulatory message. The meeting also noted the appointment of Ms. Monalisa Kashyap as the new Secretary of the Committee, who will support coordination efforts and contribute to strengthening youth-focused initiatives in the region.
The committee concluded by discussing the proposed agenda and activities for 2026, reaffirming its commitment to youth leadership, regional cooperation, cooperative identity, and inclusive participation aligned with ICYC’s long-term strategic vision.
The 17th ICA-AP Regional Assembly in Colombo, Sri Lanka, also featured key committee engagements, including the 12th MBO Council Meeting and the ICA-AP Trade and Business Committee Meeting, which brought together representatives from across the Asia-Pacific region to review progress and outline future directions for cooperative collaboration.
