The National Cooperative Federation of Nepal organized a virtual meeting on Tuesday in which International Cooperative President (ICA) President Ariel Guarco also participated. The meeting was focused on coping with the escalating COVID-19 pandemic and its effects in the Coop sector.
On the occasion the representatives of ICA member organizations in Nepal, Nepalese Cooperative leaders and others were present.
ICA president Guarco talked about the current situation of the cooperative of Nepal caused by the pandemic and advocated the possible intervention solution. The global pandemic fund is already established for India and Nepal, he said.
“Though support for vaccination is not easy as it is under the government regulation, I would disseminate the plight of Nepal at the global cooperative forum and would look for possible mediation”, said Guarco assuring the participants.
NCF Senior Vice Chairperson and ICA Global Board Member Ms. Om Devi Malla made remarks centering on possible collaboration with ICA to address the need of cooperatives in Nepal.
Keshav Prasad Badal, Immediate Past Chair of NCF, Ex-Minister and ICA-AP Regional Board Member expressed his views highlighting the status of Nepal after being hit by the first and second wave of COVID-19.
During the meeting, NCF General Manager presented a paper on “Situations of Nepalese Cooperative Movement and NCF response in Pandemic. The presentations highlighted the effect of pandemic in the cooperative sector and shed light on the intervention model to fight against pandemic.
The program was attended by Vice Chairman of NCF Ramesh Prasad Pokhrel, NCF board Member and National Cooperative Bank Chairman K.B. Upreti and officials, representatives from Nepal Agriculture Cooperative Central Federation (NACCFL) and Nepal Multipurpose Central Cooperative Union (NEMCCU).
The closing remarks were expressed by Min Raj Kadel, chairman of NCF saying that the cooperatives in Nepal are doing diverse work against pandemics. If there is the possibility of solidarity between international networks, they can further continue the business of cooperation in Nepal.