REGISTER NOW
1. Introduction
The ICA-AP Committee on Trade & Business in collaboration with ICA-AP Committee on Cooperatives in Educational Institutions (ICEI), is pleased to announce the ICA-AP Regional Immersion Programme on Cooperative Tourism, scheduled from 22–26 July 2026 in Pahang and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
To formally launch this flagship regional event and build momentum among prospective participants, the Committees plan to jointly host a Pre-Event Webinar on 15th May 2026 (Friday). This virtual gathering will serve as a preparatory platform to introduce the programme, share cooperative tourism experiences from across the Asia-Pacific region, and mobilise participation from member organisations in India, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Malaysia and beyond.
The webinar aligns with the programme’s overarching theme “Coop Tourism – Unlocking Business Potential” and reflects the committee’s commitment to positioning cooperative tourism as both an educational endeavour and a commercially viable enterprise.
2. Purpose
The Pre-Event Webinar is designed to:
- Formally launch the ICA-AP Regional Immersion Programme on Cooperative Tourism
- Generate awareness and participation among ICEI and Trade & Business Committee members across Asia-Pacific
- Showcase cooperative tourism models and experiences from diverse national contexts
- Provide prospective participants with a comprehensive preview of the July 2026 immersion programme in Malaysia
- Facilitate early dialogue among cooperatives on replicable tourism business models
3. Objectives
By the conclusion of the Pre-Event Webinar, participants will be able to:
- Understand the rationale, structure, and expected outcomes of the Regional Immersion Programme
- Gain insights into cooperative tourism practices from India, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, and Malaysia
- Appreciate the business potential of cooperative tourism in generating income, youth employment, and community enterprise
- Connect with fellow cooperative leaders and identify potential areas for cross-border collaboration
- Make informed decisions on participation and institutional engagement in the July 2026 immersion event
4. Activity Plan – Webinar Programme
Date & Time: 15 May 2026 | 12:00 PM IST | Virtual Platform (Zoom)
|
Session |
Details |
Presenter / Host |
Time (IST) |
|
Opening – Introduction |
Welcome of the Participants and Introduction of expert speakers |
Secretary ICA-ICEI / ICA-AP Trade & Business |
12:00 – 12:05 PM |
|
Opening – Context Setting |
Context Setting & Opening Remarks on “Cooperative Tourism: Unlocking Business Potential” |
Prof. Shogo Takegawa, Chairperson, ICEI |
12:05 – 12:15 PM |
|
Session 1 – India |
Cooperative Tourism Practices & Models: Experience from ULCCS, India |
Mr. Satheeshkumar N., ULCCS, India |
12:15 – 12:30 PM |
|
Session 2 – Sri Lanka |
Cooperative Tourism Practices & Models: Experience from NCCSL, Sri Lanka |
Mr. Asanka Thilakarathna, CEO/GS, NCCSL |
12:30 – 12:45 PM |
|
Session 3 – Philippines |
Cooperative Tourism Practices & Models: Insights from Nueva Segovia Consortium of Cooperatives |
Dr. Divina Quemi, NSCC, Philippines |
12:45 – 1:00 PM |
|
Session 4 – Malaysia |
Cooperative Tourism Practices & Models: Experience from KOPERAD and Chemerkaw Resort, Kampung Peruas |
Mrs. Munirah Binti Mustapa, Chemerkaw Resort |
1:00 – 1:15 PM |
|
Session 5 – Programme Introduction |
Introduction to the ICA-AP Regional Immersion Programme – Objectives, structure, itinerary (22–26 July 2026) |
Dato’ Kamarudin Ismail, Vice-Chair, ICEI |
1:15 – 1:25 PM |
|
Open Forum |
Q&A and Discussion – Participant questions, cross-country dialogue, and expressions of interest for July 2026 |
All Speakers / Moderator |
1:25 – 1:40 PM |
|
Way Forward |
Regional Perspective on Cooperative Tourism in the Asia-Pacific Region and beyond |
Mr. Balu Iyer, Regional Director, ICA-AP |
1:40 – 1:50 PM |
|
Closing |
Vote of Thanks & Next Steps – Summary, call for registration, follow-up communication |
Datuk Seri Dr. Abdul Fattah Abdullah, President, ANGKASA |
1:50 – 2:00 PM |
Note: Moderators: Secretary ICA-AP Trade & Business Committee and Secretary, ICA-AP ICEI
5. Date, Format & Logistics
|
Date |
15th May 2026 (Friday) |
|
Format |
Virtual Webinar (Zoom) |
|
Duration |
Approximately 2 hours |
|
Language |
English |
|
Registration |
Open to all – registration link will be provided |
|
Recording |
Session will be recorded and shared with registered participants |
6. Target Participants
The Pre-Event Webinar is open to:
- Members of the ICA-AP Committee on Cooperatives in Educational Institutions (ICEI)
- Members of the ICA-AP Committee on Trade & Business
- Cooperative leaders, managers and educators from ICA-AP member organisations across Asia-Pacific
- Representatives of school cooperatives, apex cooperative bodies, and cooperative tourism operators
- National Cooperative Councils and Apex Bodies from the Asia-Pacific region
7. Expected Outcomes
The Pre-Event Webinar is expected to achieve the following outcomes:
- Formal launch of the ICA-AP Regional Immersion Programme on Cooperative Tourism among Asia-Pacific cooperative networks
- Increased awareness and confirmed participation of at least 30–40 individuals from ICEI and Trade & Business Committee member organisations
- Cross-country sharing of cooperative tourism best practices and business models across four Asia-Pacific countries
- Clear understanding among participants of the July 2026 immersion programme’s logistics, costs (RM 570 / USD 150 per participant) and registration process
8. Follow-Up Actions
Following the Pre-Event Webinar, the ICEI Secretariat will:
- Circulate the webinar recording and speaker presentations to all registered participants
- Issue formal invitation letters and registration forms for the July 2026 Immersion Programme
- Share detailed logistics information, including fees, accommodation, transportation, and programme itinerary
- Establish a coordination channel (email group or messaging platform) for registered participants
9. Conclusion
The Pre-Event Webinar on 15th May 2026 marks the formal commencement of a milestone initiative for the ICA-AP cooperative movement. By bringing together cooperative leaders and practitioners from Asia-Pacific on a single virtual platform, the Committees aim to catalyse regional collaboration, inspire action, and collectively unlock the vast business potential that cooperative tourism holds across the region.
—
MEET THE SPEAKERS
 |
Prof. Shogo Takegawa Chairperson, ICA-AP Committee on Cooperatives in Educational Institutions (ICEI) National Federation of University Co-operative Associations (NFUCA) | Japan Prof. Shogo Takegawa (born 1955 in Tokyo) is a Japanese sociologist specialising in social policy and welfare sociology. He currently serves as President of the National Federation of University Co-operative Associations (NFUCA), and is Professor Emeritus at the University of Tokyo and former professor at Meiji Gakuin University. He has held prominent leadership roles including President of the Japan Welfare Sociology Association, board member of the Japan Research Association for Community Development, associate member of the Science Council of Japan, and Executive Director of the NFUCA Scholarship Foundation. |
 |
Mr. Satheeshkumar N. Manager – Business Development, Kerala Arts & Crafts Village (ULCCS) Uralungal Labour Contract Cooperative Society (ULCCS) | India Satheeshkumar N. holds an MBA with specialisation in International Business and a Post Graduate Diploma in Commerce with specialisation in Cooperative Management. He currently serves as Business Development Manager at Kerala Arts and Crafts Village, Kovalam – a flagship tourism venture of ULCCS. With over 20 years of international experience in Dubai across finance and business development roles, he has spent the last five years contributing to cooperative tourism in Kerala. He also serves as a resource person for the Development Commissioner for Handicrafts, Government of India, imparting modern marketing knowledge to village artisans and weavers. |
 |
Mr. Asanka Thilakarathna General Secretary & CEO National Cooperative Council of Sri Lanka (NCCSL) | Sri Lanka Mr. Asanka Thilakarathna is the General Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the National Cooperative Council of Sri Lanka. He holds advanced degrees from the University of Colombo and the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, and is a full member of the Chartered Professional Managers Institute of Sri Lanka. With over 15 years of experience in the cooperative sector, he is actively engaged in local and international cooperative activities and serves as a member of the ICA-AP Committee on Trade and Business. |
 |
Dr. Divina C. Quemi Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer Nueva Segovia Consortium of Cooperatives (NSCC) | Philippines Dr. Divina C. Quemi is a co-founder and the Chief Executive Officer of the Nueva Segovia Consortium of Cooperatives (NSCC), which has grown under her leadership into one of the billionaire cooperatives in Region 1 of the Philippines. She has built an extensive portfolio of cooperative tourism enterprises including hotels, convention centres, and the NSCC Agri-Tourism Farm Village. She holds a Doctorate in Business Administration from the University of Northern Philippines and has been recognised as Asia’s Most Empowered Woman in Unifying the Cooperative Sector (2022) and Most Outstanding Cooperative Leader in Region 1. |
 |
Mrs. Munirah binti Mustapa Managing Director, MS Chemerkaw Sdn. Bhd. | Manager, Chemerkaw Resort Koperasi Homestay Peruas Berhad (KOPERAD), Kampung Peruas | Malaysia Mrs. Munirah binti Mustapa is the Managing Director of MS Chemerkaw Sdn. Bhd. and Manager of Chemerkaw Resort, Kampung Peruas, Pahang – a company actively involved in ecotourism and hospitality. With years of experience in resort operations, training, and community empowerment, she is an active member of Homestay Peruas and a cooperative member of KOPERAD. She is a recipient of the TAYO Award at ASEAN Level (2012), the Perdana Belia Negara Award (2012), and the Felda Desa EXPO 2026 Entrepreneur Award. |
 |
Dato’ Kamarudin Ismail Vice President, ANGKASA | Vice Chair, ICA-AP ICEI ANGKASA (Angkatan Koperasi Kebangsaan Malaysia Berhad) | Malaysia Dato’ Kamarudin Ismail is a cooperative leader with over two decades of experience in advancing the cooperative movement at national, regional, and global levels. He serves as a Board Member of the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA), Vice Chair of Consumer Co-operatives Worldwide (CCW), Vice Chair of the ICA-AP Committee on Cooperatives in Educational Institutions, and Secretary General of the ASEAN Cooperative Organisation (ACO). A former Senior Assistant Director at the Ministry of Education Malaysia, he has been instrumental in developing Malaysia’s school cooperative movement. |
 |
Mr. Balasubramanian (Balu) Iyer Regional Director International Cooperative Alliance Asia-Pacific (ICA-AP), New Delhi | India Balu Iyer has served as Regional Director for ICA-AP since 2014, bringing extensive experience in international development and cooperative leadership across Asia and the Pacific. He has worked to strengthen cooperative institutions, promote inclusive economic development, and advance policy dialogue at national, regional, and global levels. Prior roles include the Asia Foundation, ActionAid India, and the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme. He holds a master’s in public policy from UC Berkeley, a Post Graduate Diploma in Rural Management from IRMA, and a bachelor’s in civil engineering from NIT Durgapur. |
 |
Datuk Seri Dr. Abdul Fattah Abdullah President, ANGKASA | Chair, ICA-AP Trade & Business Committee ANGKASA | ICA-Asia Pacific | Malaysia Datuk Seri Dr. Abdul Fattah Abdullah has been President of ANGKASA since 2013, bringing over 20 years of experience in cooperative advocacy and youth development. He is Vice President of ICA-Asia Pacific, President of the ASEAN Cooperative Organisation (ACO), and Chair of the ICA-AP Trade and Business Committee. A PhD holder in Development Management and former State Assemblyman, he was the first recipient of the Asia Pacific Inspirational Cooperative Leaders Award (2023) introduced by ICA-Asia Pacific in Manila. |
For any further information or query, reach out to shrija.sinha@icaap.coop
