The ICA-AP Regional Board convened its meeting on 24 November 2025 in Colombo, Sri Lanka, with participation from Board members representing India, China, Malaysia, Iran, Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam. Dr. Chandrapal Singh Yadav, President of ICA-AP, opened the meeting by welcoming all members and expressing appreciation to the National Cooperative Council of Sri Lanka for hosting the event. Noting that this was the final Board meeting of the 2021–2025 tenure, he conveyed his gratitude to members for their collaboration and support and extended his best wishes for the upcoming Regional Board elections.

The Board approved the meeting agenda and confirmed the minutes of the previous meetings held on 23 July and 10 September 2025. Updates were then presented by the Women and Youth Committees, followed by a briefing on ICA-AP and ICA-EU project activities, including the current status of membership and subscriptions.

A central item of discussion was the 2026 ICA-AP Activity Plan, outlining proposed priorities and regional engagements for the coming year. The Board also reviewed and ratified the ICA-AP Rules, ensuring alignment with governance requirements and organisational objectives. A significant agenda point concerned voting rights for the Women and Youth Committees. The Board formally granted the voting rights to the chairpersons of both committees. This decision brought the region in line with global cooperative standards and reinforces ICA-AP’s commitment to inclusive and participatory governance. Both committees expressed their gratitude for this recognition and affirmed their dedication to contributing to a more representative cooperative movement in the region.

The Board also addressed voting exception requests related to the Regional Board elections, and received an update on the 17th ICA-AP Regional Assembly held that week in Colombo. Discussions continued on potential venues for the 18th ICA-AP Regional Assembly, along with updates on activities linked to the International Year of Cooperatives 2025.

Dr. Yadav closed the session by once again thanking members for their commitment and reaffirming the shared vision of strengthening cooperative development across the Asia-Pacific region.