India is hosting a global conference of cooperatives for the first time

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the ‘United Nations International Year of Cooperatives 2025’ at the conference. File | Photo credit: ANI

India is all set to host the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) global conference in Delhi next week. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the United Nations ‘International Year of Cooperatives 2025’ at the conference on Monday, November 25, 2024.

For the first time in the 130-year history of the ICA, the leading body of the global cooperative movement, the ICA General Assembly and the Global Cooperative Conference will be hosted in India at the initiative of IFFCO. The event is scheduled to take place from November 25th to 30th.

Addressing a press conference, Cooperation Minister Ashish Kumar Bhutani said that around 3,000 delegates were expected at the event and of these, 1,000 were delegates from abroad.

Bhutan’s Prime Minister Dasho Tshering Tobgay and Fiji Deputy Prime Minister Manoa Kamikamica will also attend the event as esteemed guests.

Union Cooperation Minister Amit Shah will attend the event on November 25. He will chair the opening session of the Global Cooperative Conference as the chief guest.

Will Pakistan take part?

When asked if Pakistan is participating in the event, the minister said, “More than 100 countries are participating. We have received requests to participate from many countries. Some countries require permits and protocols. The State Department is following protocols regarding allowing representatives of these countries to attend the event.”

According to Bhutani, 25% of the world’s cooperatives were in India. The event will provide an opportunity to showcase the strength of Indian cooperatives, he added. There are eight lakh cooperatives in India.

IFFCO Managing Director US Awasthi said the event will be carbon neutral and 10,000 Peepal trees have been planted across the country. Only vegetarian food would be served without alcohol, he added.

He said the theme of the event will be “Cooperatives create prosperity for all” and the sub-themes will be: promoting policy and entrepreneurial ecosystems; Promoting purposeful leadership to create prosperity for all; affirmation of cooperative identity; Shaping the Future: Towards Achieving Prosperity for All in the 21st Century.