ICA Board meets in Bulgaria; Bulgarian Prez addresses co-operators

The President of the Republic of Bulgaria Rumen Radev inaugurated the opening session of the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) board meeting that took place from 7-9, 2023 March in Sofia.

The leaders of National Cooperative Organizations from 21 countries appointed as the board members from all ICA regions-Asia-Pacific, the Americas, Europe and Africa attended the meeting.

From India, NCUI Chairman Dileepbhai Sanghani, ICA-AP and Kribhco President Chandra Pal Singh Yadav, NCUI Deputy CE Savitri Singh, ICA Board Member Aditya Yadav, Nafscob MD Bhima Subrahmanyam attended the board meeting.

In his remarks, President Rumen Radev said, “It is a real privilege for me to attend the meeting of the ICA board, of one of the most progressive and social movements in the world”.

“The world cooperative movement not only withstood the turbulent globalization processes in the economy. What’s more, it has proven that it can be truly sustainable, that it can be a truly social model. And the International Cooperative Alliance is a good example of this”, he added.

During his visit to Sofia, the Indian delegates not only attended the board meeting of ICA but also paid a courtesy call on Sanjay Rana, Indian Ambassador to Bulgaria.

Later, they visited the Water Filter Plant and a Specialized Rehabilitation hospital- ZDRAVE run by the Bulgarian Cooperative Union in Sofia with the ICA President Ariel Guarco. They closely interacted with the representatives of the Union.

Besides, they also visited different cooperative stores in Sofia. “Bulgaria Cooperative Union is working towards making citizens self-reliant by giving various types of training through cooperatives’ ‘, said Dileepbhai Shanghai while visiting different co-ops.

The attendees have visited cooperatives in health, consumer and service sectors and had a deeper look into Bulgarian history at the National Cooperative Museum.

During the meeting in Sofia, discussions were held on important topics related to the implementation of the priorities set out in the Strategic Plan for the Development of Cooperatives in the Second Cooperative Decade 2030, namely: Popularization of Cooperative Identity, Growth of the cooperative movement, Cooperation between cooperatives, Cooperatives’ contribution to global sustainable development.

Interestingly, NAFSCOB Managing Director B Subrahmanyam was felicitated with Honorary Gold Medal in Sofia for contribution to development of cooperative Movement as President, ICBA by Dr Petar Stefanov, Chairman, CCU of Bulgaria. An excited Bhima recalled the incident “I was about to leave for Airport in an informal dress and then I was advised to be present in a very unexpectedly arranged Felicitation Meet”.

The ICA Board of Directors also adopted the agenda and materials for the upcoming ICA General Assembly to be held on 28 June 2023 in Brussels, Belgium.