COLOMBO DECLARATION

The 12^th Asia Pacific Cooperative Forum and the 17^th International Cooperative Alliance – Asia Pacific Regional Assembly,

Having been convened in Sri Lanka by the ICA Asia and Pacific, the regional office of the International Cooperative Alliance, as hosted by the National Co-operative Council of Sri Lanka (NCCSL), in collaboration with the Department of Co-operative Development (DCD), SANASA Federation Ltd., and Matara District Cooperative Hospital Society Ltd.,

Recognizing, that the Regional Assembly is the highest governing body of ICA Asia and Pacific, bringing together all members to shape policy, discuss cooperative development, and build partnerships, promote democratic governance and collaboration across the region,

Reaffirming, the International Statement on the Cooperative Identity (the Statement) of which the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) is the global custodian, guided by the sixth cooperative principle of Cooperation among Cooperatives, strengthening the cooperative movement by working together through local, national, regional and international structures, expressing the cooperative value of solidarity,

Noting, that the Statement confers on the ICA and its member organizations, as well as the wider cooperative movement worldwide, the responsibility of building meaningful partnerships and alliances with all stakeholders, in accelerating the attainment of the UN Sustainable Development Goals by 2030,

Noting, that 2025 is the International Year of Cooperatives, the forum will highlight that cooperatives are catalysts for a better future, fostering economic democracy, social solidarity, and resilient communities across the region,

Recognizing, the significant contributions of cooperatives in the Asia Pacific region to economic growth, job creation, poverty alleviation, social inclusion, and environmental sustainability and acknowledging the unique democratic and people-centered nature of cooperatives, and their ability to empower individuals, communities, and marginalized groups,

Affirming, that the Asia Pacific Cooperative Forum, established in 2000, is a flagship biennial event that brings together our members, partners, and stakeholders from the Asia-Pacific region’s cooperative movements,

Affirming further, that the forum will serve as a platform to reflect on cooperative achievements, share strategic insights, and shape a roadmap for the future of cooperative-driven development in the region – promoting policy advocacy, education, and strategy partnerships,

Hereby adopts, on this 27th day of November 2025, the following declaration which may be cited as ICA Asia and Pacific Declaration for Sustainable Development of Cooperatives – Building a Better World.

The General Assembly of the Asia Pacific region, gathered in Colombo, Sri Lanka from 24-28 November 2025, for the 12^th Asia and Pacific Cooperative Forum and the 17^th International Cooperative Alliance – Asia and Pacific Regional Assembly, do hereby declare our intention and recommend to:

Advance people-centered enterprises, affirmed by the ICA Asia and Pacific Strategy 2026-2030, for leveraging the collective strength of members, and positioning cooperatives as a sustainable model that generates long-term jobs and prosperity, thus promoting inclusive opportunities and expanding leadership;

Draw direction from the ICA Asia and Pacific’s Strategy for 2026-2030, i) Promoting Inclusive Opportunities within Cooperatives, ii) Enabling Regulation and Policy Recognition, iii) Advancing “Cooperative Competitiveness” and Advocating Cooperatives as “Development Actors”, iv) Building Awareness and Accelerating Growth, v) Strengthening Cooperative Networks and Cooperation across the Region, and vi) Serving as a Resource for Knowledge, Expertise, and Action,

Prioritize engaging the youth in the decision-making processes of cooperative management, providing opportunities, training, and mentorship programs which will cultivate future-ready leaders, strengthen intergenerational collaboration, and ensure

the long-term sustainability of the cooperative movement – aligned with the ICA Asia and Pacific Youth Committee’s Strategy Plan 2026-2030;

Promote practical, market-oriented cooperation through the Committee on Trade and Business by expanding cross-border opportunities, strengthening cooperative tourism, enhancing regional trade participation, and building capacities in marketing, product development, and digital readiness, thereby advancing ICA Asia and Pacific’s vision of regional integration, visibility, and sustainable cooperative growth;

Embed co-operatives in educational institutions, as affirmed by the ICA Asia and Pacific Committee on Cooperatives in Educational Institutions, it being vital for nurturing co-operative ideals, kindling multi-dimensional interest in the cooperative model which is more relevant than ever, enabling through diverse pathways the engagement of educational institutions and cooperative movements and ecosystems, inspiring commitment, and strengthening democracy among the youth;

Anchor the work on four foundational pillars – economic empowerment, social empowerment, knowledge and training, and solidarity – that form the four broad areas the ICA Asia and Pacific Committee on Women grounds its work in, and which provide the core framework for its Gender Equality Strategy (2023–2028);

Advance high-quality cooperative research across Asia–Pacific through the ICA Asia and Pacific Committee on Cooperative Research by convening regional conferences and workshops, strengthening researcher networks, and nurturing studies that respond to the sector’s critical needs;

Prioritize young and emerging scholars (YES) through dedicated workshops, regional and international networking, and collaboration with the ICA Asia and Pacific Youth Committee to expand pathways for youth-led research;

Explore mechanisms providing funding and opportunities for pilot research with cooperatives, further providing funding and sponsorship for young researchers to participate in events and conferences involving research;

Advance worker-led cooperative solutions in the care economy, as affirmed by CICOPA Asia–Pacific, by strengthening regional exchange, advocating for policy, deepening collective dialogue, and promoting democratic models that ensure dignified work and quality care to expand cooperative approaches grounded in solidarity and participation;

Enhance agricultural and environmental cooperatives across Asia–Pacific by deepening partnerships, strengthening collaboration, and engaging youth in sustainable and climate-responsive agriculture;

Strengthen consumer cooperatives across Asia–Pacific by promoting fair access to goods, enhancing member-driven governance, advancing digital and retail innovation, and expanding collaborative, transparent supply chains—building resilient, people-centered markets grounded in cooperative values;

Strengthen cooperative financial ecosystems and infrastructure through expansion of access to alternative funding sources, new products, cutting edge technology, financial literacy programs, and advocate for policies which improves access to financing for cooperatives of all sizes and in all sectors across geographies, resulting in well-capitalised cooperatives;

Advance technological innovation and expanding green credit mechanisms to create added value and broaden income opportunities for farmers, supporting a more resilient and sustainable cooperative sector.

Strengthen international cooperative collaboration in established and emerging areas through the Asia Pacific Cooperative Development Platform (APCDP), reaffirming commitments to cooperative identity, member empowerment, sustainable development, effective advocacy, and mutual support, as enshrined in its Charter signed on 24 November 2025 and as strongly upheld in the 2025 Doha Declaration.

Empower cooperatives creating employment, building democratized resource ownership, and ensuring social welfare by promoting sustainable development, diversification, and formulation of new strategies to expand and identify new pathways for cooperative growth and resilience, thus addressing instability in some sectors.

Advocate for strong and clear cooperative identity and branding to attract more members, especially the youth, build integrated communication capabilities of cooperatives, and provide strategies and marketing approaches across media to enhance cooperative presence and visibility;

Enable an environment where cooperatives foster a supportive ecosystem for cooperative enterprises, advancing economic development, sharing best practices;

Support and provide strategic inputs on legal and policy frameworks, legislations, cooperative regulations, to improve governance and inclusive economic growth to national economic transformation; and

Exchange best practices and frameworks that support cooperative growth and resilience.

Honoring the spirit and substance of the rich contributions and cooperation at this conference, we are holding ourselves accountable to deliver and track progress of all declarations and recommendations.

Thus, in consideration of the foregoing declaration, we invite and call upon all stakeholders, including governments, cooperative organizations, civil society, non-government organizations, and the diverse private sector, to work closely with with the ICA Asia and Pacific in this endeavor, and work collaboratively towards a more resilient, sustainable, and inclusive future for the Asia Pacific.