The soft-launch event for the 2025 UN International Year of Cooperatives kicked off with full enthusiasm at the UN Headquarters in New York on Tuesday. The event was attended by the who’s who of the International cooperative movement.
From ICA President Ariel Guarco to ICA-AP President Dr Chandra Pal Singh Yadav to UN representatives and others were there to celebrate the soft-launch event. IFFCO’s Chairman Dileepbhai Sanghani, Nafed Director Bijendra Singh, NCUI CE Sudhir Mahajan, Savitri Singh, IFFCO’s Santosh Shukhla and others were present from India.
He emphasized that this motto resonates with everyday actions and contributions of cooperative members on all continents, underscoring the pride and dedication within the cooperative movement.
Addressing the participants, ICA-AP President Dr Chandra Pal Singh Yadav said, “”The Asia Pacific region is a vibrant hub for cooperatives, spread across all countries and sectors”, he remarked.
“We aim to increase the visibility of cooperatives through media, enhance people-to-people engagement, and showcase all the positive contributions that cooperatives make as part of the IYC2025 celebrations”, he underlined.
India’s Representative at the UN, Ambassador R Ravindra said, “The reach and size of India’s cooperative movement is so vast and big, which is difficult to put in words. We are having cooperatives in agriculture, horticulture, fisheries, dairy housing, health and others. The Co-op sector played a significant role in India in overall economic development”, he said.
IFFCO President Dileep Sanghani said, “India, home to more than 0.85 million cooperatives. I feel proud to
“The Govt. of India has established a separate Ministry of Cooperation in 2021 to enhance the cooperative movement in India. I would like to convey my sincere thanks to the United Nations for declaring 2025 as the International Year of Cooperatives”, he added.
Sanghani further said, “I, on behalf of IFFCO, NCUI and Indian Cooperative movement invite you all to New Delhi on 25 November 2024 for witnessing the official launch of the “International Year of Cooperative 2025” and to participate in the Global Cooperative Conference”, he said.
In her address, H.E. Ms. Njambi Kinyungu, Ambassador/Deputy Permanent Representative of Kenya to the UN said, “”Cooperatives prove it is possible to pursue economic efficacy and social development. Cooperatives play an important role in every sector of the economy. In Kenya, they provide a sustainable way of reaching the 2030 Agenda, members represent Vs of the Kenyan population”, she informed.
Another participant, H.E. Mr.Ankhbayar Nyamdorj, Permanent Representative of Mongolia to the UN said, “”Cooperatives in their various forms promote social and economic development in every community. Since 1981, Mongolia has been the proud co-sponsor of the UN Resolutions on the role of cooperatives on social development. This has been contributing greatly to development worldwide”.
H.E. MS. Paula Narvaez, President of Ecosoc said, “The values and principles of cooperatives make them directly relevant to sustainable development. They need to be promoted more widely so cooperatives can become the norm and not the exception”.
Dr. Mallika Kumar, Vice-Chairperson, ICA-AP Committee on Cooperatives in Educational Institutions (ICEI) said, “Cooperatives have long existed but are not visible, especially amongst youth. There is a need to educate youth about cooperatives and to better understand their needs. IYC2025 is a pivotal moment for cooperatives to not just celebrate but also retrospect, reflect and reset”, she said.
The official launching of the International Year of Cooperatives will be held during the ICA Global Cooperative Conference, scheduled for November 25-29, 2024, in New Delhi, India. The last International Year of Cooperatives was held 12 years ago.
