An informal group of researchers have been holding Asia Pacific Research Conferences, in conjunction with ICA Regional Assembly for some years.

The third ICA Regional Research Conference was held at the Melia Hotel, Hanoi on 2nd December, 2008, several researchers from India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Vietnam participated in this Conference. A number of participants could not attend due to the closure of the Bangkok Airport. As in the past, scholarships of US$ 500 each were awarded by the Consumer Cooperative Institute of Japan to six researchers from India and one from the Philippines. However, some of the receipients of scholarships could not attend the Conference .

Prof. Vrij Lal Sapowadia of IIM Ahmedabad, Dr. T. Pranjoti, Secretary, NCTT, New Delhi, Dr. Rajendran of Periyar, University , Salem, Dr. G.N. Saxena, Director (Cooperative Development) IFFCO India, Shri B.D. Sharma, Consultant, ICA Asia-Pacific, Dr. Nguyen Dac Tang, Vice-Chairman of Vietnam Cooperative Alliance and Shri Rajiv Mehta, Director (Development), ICA AP presented papers at the Conference.

Mr. Akiri Kuromoto, Director of Consumer Cooperative Institute of Japan presided over the Conference at the first session held before lunch and Dr. Sapowadia presided the session after lunch.

After the Conference, a Steering Committee Meeting was held which was presided over by Mr. Kuromoto. Dr. G.N. Saxena of IFFCO was unanimously elected as the Chairman of the Research Committee for a period of four years. Mr. Kuromoto was unanimously elected as Vice-Chairman of the Committee. The term of office will be four years.

Both Dr. Saxena and Mr. Kuromoto as Chairman & Vice-Chairman of the Research Committee, Asia-Pacific, are ex-officio members of the ICA Global Rsearch Committee, therefore, will be attending the Meetings and Conferences of the ICA Global Research Committee.

Mr. Kuromoto congratulated Dr. Saxena on his election and hoped that he will be able to guide the Committee to higher level cooperative research and that IFFCO India will offer support to the Committees’ activities in future. Dr. Saxena thanked Mr. Kuromoto and the other researchers for electing him as the Chairman of the Committee and requested for their support on cooperative research in the Region and the activities of the Committee.

While the next Research Conference will possibly be held in conjunction with the next Regional Assembly in China, the office bearers (Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Secretary) of the Committee will have to meet at least once a year.