The second meeting of the ICA-AP Regional Board in 2023 was held on 21 August at the Resorts World Awana Genting Highlands in Pahang, Malaysia in hybrid mode. It was hosted by the Malaysian National Cooperative Movement (ANGKASA). Board members and observers from India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Nepal, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka and ICA-AP Regional Office staff were present in person, while members from Australia, China, Iran, and Vietnam joined online.
Datuk Seri Dr. Abdul Fattah Abdullah, President of ANGKASA and Vice-President of ICA-AP welcomed all the participants. He proudly shared with the Board the success of the recently held Asia Pacific Cooperative Youth Summit (APCYS) 4.0 that brought together 185 youth from across the region in Sabah, Malaysia. He invited the Board Members to attend the Cooperative to Cooperative (C-2-C) Trade & Business Conference and the cooperative visit to Koperasi Ladang Berhad in Kuala Lumpur. He encouraged them to experience the rich recreational activities at Genting Highlands and participate in the tour to Genting Skyworld.
Dr. Chandrapal Singh Yadav, President of ICA-AP thanked Datuk Fattah and ANGKASA for hosting the Board meeting. He shared that the Indian Cooperative Congress was held on the International Day of Cooperatives on 1st July. The Prime Minister of India, Shri. Narendra Modi addressed more than 3,500 cooperators from across the country. Dr. Yadav noted that these events are important in creating the ‘Political Will’ to support the cooperative business model.
Dr. Yadav mentioned that the G20 Presidency of India will conclude in September and various working groups are concluding their discussions and drafting the policy recommendations. Indian Cooperatives participated actively in Business-20, Civil Society-20 and Women-20 groups and Cooperatives have been mentioned in some of the policy recommendations. He congratulated the ICA-AP Women's Committee on their upcoming 25th-anniversary celebrations.
The Regional Board welcomed and ratified the nomination of the new Board member Atty. Maria Corazon S. Montallana from NATCCO, the Philippines.
Ms. Chitose Arai, Chairperson of the ICA-AP Committee on Women reported on the key activities – Pilot training of trainers on Climate Change held in Vietnam in collaboration with NATCCO, upcoming 25th-anniversary celebratory event, and the statutory meeting and Women’s Forum being planned in November 2023. She invited the Board members to attend the 25th Anniversary celebration in Japan. Mr. Alireza Banaeifar, Chairperson of the ICA-AP Committee on Youth Cooperation (ICYC), presented updates on the Go Green Campaign (GGC) 5.0, APCYS 4.0, and upcoming activities like the International Youth Day 2023 Webinar, ICYC elections and the statutory meeting to be held in November 2023.
Mr. Balu Iyer, Regional Director, ICA-AP presented the key activities undertaken by the Regional Office since the last Board meeting, and updates on projects (ICA-EU FPA2, SuPER WE Coffee project in Laos PDR, and EU-CSO proposal). He also presented the ICA-AP financial report from January to June 2023 and shared updates on membership and subscription status. Dr. Yadav and Regional Board members acknowledged the activities carried out by the office.
Mr. Iyer shared key updates on the ongoing planning of the ICA-AP Regional Assembly, the Cooperative Forum and other related events. He informed the Board of the collaboration with Jordan Cooperative Corporation to organise the 11th Asia Pacific Cooperative Ministers. Conference in Jordan, in April 2024 and with the National Cooperative Council of Sri Lanka to organise the 17th Regional Assembly in Sri Lanka in 2025.
The Board approved the date and venue of the next Regional Board Meeting, to be held in the Philippines on 6 November 2023. Dr. Yadav thanked the members for their active participation in the meeting.
