ICA Gen Assembly to be held in Delhi, Over 100 countries expected to attend

The International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) is set to host its 2024 General Assembly and the Global Cooperative Conference in New Delhi, marking a historic first for India. The event will take place from November 25th to November 30th at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, bringing together representatives from over 100 countries.

At a press conference held at IFFCO headquarters on Monday, Dr. U.S. Awasthi, Managing Director of IFFCO, Ashish Bhutani, Secretary of Cooperation, and Jeroen Douglas, Director General of the ICA, shared details of the conference. The theme of the event, “Cooperatives Build Prosperity for All,” aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Sahkar se Samriddhi’ (Prosperity through Cooperation).

This will be the first time in ICA’s 130-year history that India will host the prestigious event. ICA, a global body that oversees the cooperative movement, has selected India not only because of its significant cooperative history but also due to its leadership in the sector. India is home to one-fourth of the world’s cooperatives, both in terms of numbers and membership.

During the event, the official launch of the United Nations’ International Year of Cooperatives 2025 will also take place, with a commemorative stamp to be unveiled. In addition, an exhibition named “Haat,” themed around Indian villages, will showcase products and services from Indian cooperatives.

Ashish Bhutani highlighted the growth of the Indian cooperative sector, which has seen the introduction of 54 initiatives aimed at strengthening cooperative movements. “The implementation of the PACS model byelaws has been transformative for the sector,” Bhutani said, adding that the international conference will spread India’s cooperative model across the globe.

Echoing the significance of the event, ICA Director General Jeroen Douglas stated that cooperatives offer the most scalable, sustainable model to address global challenges. He underscored India’s pivotal role in this movement, crediting it as a founding member of the ICA and a leader in promoting sustainability through cooperatives.

Dr. U.S. Awasthi, MD of IFFCO, announced that the event would be carbon-neutral, aligning with India’s environmental goals. Under the leadership of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, IFFCO’s subsidiary, IFFDC, has been a top earner in carbon credits. As part of the event’s sustainability goals, 10,000 Peepal trees will be planted—far exceeding the 4,000 trees needed to offset the carbon footprint.

The event is expected to host over 1,500 distinguished guests, including international dignitaries such as the Prime Minister of Bhutan, the President of UN ECOSOC, and ICA members.

India’s hosting of the 2024 ICA General Assembly signals the country’s growing influence in the cooperative movement, as it steps onto the world stage to share its success story with an international audience.