Strengthening Trade and Business

Resolution to Streamline the Regional Rice Supply Management and Forum on Cooperative Principle 6

The ICA-AP Trade and Business Committee, in its first meeting this year, unanimously approved a resolution to establish the Asia-Pacific cooperative movement as a facilitation platform for efficient management of rice supply import and export. Led by Datuk Seri Dr. Abdul Fattah Abdullah, President of the Committee and ASEAN Cooperative Organization (ACO) and Vice-President of ICA-AP, the resolution highlighted the importance of inter-cooperation in addressing community needs, particularly in food security. The outcomes of the same were presented at the 11th APCMC in Jordan.

On the sidelines, the committee also organized a forum on ‘Co-operative Principle in Action: Principle 6 - Co-operation Among Co-operatives’ in partnership with ANGKASA and CLT. It aimed to familiarize members with the significance and direct advantages of adopting the cooperative-to-cooperative (C-2-C) trade model through knowledge exchange. It also assessed the level of cooperatives’ engagement with Principle 6, emphasizing cooperation among cooperatives. A total of 17 representatives from the ICA-AP Trade and Business Committee attended the event in person from six countries – Malaysia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, China, and the Philippines and 25 participants joined the forum online.

Trade Dialogue on Empowering Cooperatives through Digital Transformation

The Trade and Business Committee organized the Trade Dialogue on 2 and 3 September in Kunming, Yunnan Province, China. The event focused on the transformative potential of E-commerce, Big Data, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) for cooperatives. The opening ceremony featured key addresses from Mr. Yi Zong, Vice President of the Board of Supervisors at ACFSMC, Datuk Seri Dr. Abdul Fattah Abdullah, Vice President of ICA-AP and President of ANGKASA, Mr. Balasubramanian Iyer, Regional Director of ICA-AP, and Mr. Ligui He, Director of Yunnan Provincial Coop.

One of the sessions explored e-commerce for cooperative growth with insights from panelists – Ms. Christie Rowena Corpuz Plantilla (Philippines, FPSDC), Mr. Cheng Haixing (Singapore, FairPrice Group), and Mr. Lim Sungwoo (Korea, NACF). Another session focused on Big Data, moderated featuring presentations from Mr. Muhammad Hudhaifa Ahmad (Malaysia, MDS), Mr. Paritosh Paudyal (Nepal, NCF), and Ms. Yuemin Chen (China, CCECL). And the final session, on AI, included Mr. Cheng Haixing (Singapore, FairPrice Group), Mr. Sumitani Noboru (Japan, JCCU), and Ms. Luna Xue (China, CNAMPGC) as key speakers. The discussions emphasized how integrating E-commerce, Big Data, and AI can drive sustainable growth and operational efficiency for cooperatives. The delegates visited the Yunnan Supply and Marketing Electronic Commerce Co., Ltd., the Songming County Flower Cooperative, and Yunnan Mushroom Biotechnology Co., Ltd. which provided valuable insights into innovative agricultural practices and business opportunities in the region.

Adopting Digital Technologies

Webinar on Climate Smart Agriculture

ICA-AP’s newly constituted Committee on Agriculture and Environment (ICAE) organized a webinar on "Climate Smart Agriculture: Perspectives for the Asia and Pacific region" on 25 April. It provided a platform for stakeholders to delve into the challenges and opportunities surrounding climate-smart agriculture (CSA) and its role in building resilient food systems. The webinar sought to foster dialogue on various facets of CSA, including its transformational potential, barriers to adoption, and opportunities for financing. The event attracted a diverse audience comprising cooperative leaders, policymakers, researchers, and development practitioners.

It featured two expert speakers Mr. Takayuki Hagiwara, Country Representative - India, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and Dr. S. Naresh Kumar, Head Principal Scientist, Indian Agriculture Research Institute (IARI). Mr. Hagiwara touched upon the need for an Agrifood Systems approach that incorporated agrifood industry development, the private sector engagement, involvement of youth, sustainable water use, soil health, farm efficiency, governance, stakeholder collaboration, capacity building, and policy frameworks. Dr. Kumar delved into the scientific aspects of climate change and climate-resilient practices. Both presentations enriched the discussions and underscored the importance of collaborative action in addressing the challenges of climate change and food security.

Webinar on Digital Cooperative Platforms by and for Youth

The ICA-AP Committee on Cooperatives in Educational Institutions (ICEI) organized a webinar titled "Digital Cooperative Platforms by and for Youth - Perspectives for the Asia and Pacific Region" on 25 June. Around 90 participants joined the webinar to discuss the potential of digital cooperative platforms in empowering youth and fostering sustainable development across the Asia and Pacific region.

Mr. Ichiro Nakamori, Managing Director of NFUCA, Japan, and Vice-Chairman of ICEI, presented a detailed overview of the Univ Coop App, a versatile app for students of NFUCA that includes eMoney, meal plan details, and ways for parents to top up funds. Mr. Moosa Mehar MP, CEO of Tinkerhub Foundation, India, shared the inspiring journey and innovative projects of Tinkerhub. Founded in 2014 by young students from various colleges, it has grown into a 21,000+ strong community of learners and mentors across 61+ campuses. It’s ‘TinkerSpace’ enables students to learn and collaborate on tech projects. Mr. Zaiwin Kassim, Chairman of KOBIS, Malaysia, discussed the Cooperative Digitalization Action Plan (DigiKOP) 2030, which aims to promote youth enterprises through technology and innovative approaches. The webinar featured an engaging Q&A session with discussions around the potential of the Univ Coop App for university cooperatives, the innovative approaches of Tinkerhub, and the strategies outlined in DigiKOP 2030 for youth-led digital cooperatives.

Promoting Financial Innovation

International Credit & Banking Conference 2024

The ICA-AP Committee on Credit and Banking, along with the ASEAN Cooperative Organization (ACO), and ANGKASA, organized the International Credit & Banking Conference on 5 and 6 June, in Kuala Lumpur Sentral, Malaysia. It gathered 50 delegates from Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines, Brunei, India, Nepal, Malaysia, Timor Leste, and Korea.

The conference featured an insightful keynote by Mr. Khairil Anuar Mohammad Anuar, CEO of Co-opbank Pertama (Malaysia), who discussed the transition from conventional to Shariah-based finance. The first forum focused on empowering cooperative businesses by leveraging digital solutions for financial inclusion and growth. Moderated by the Director of MYANGKASA Digital Services & MYISCO, Malaysia, Mr. Muhammad Hudhaifa Ahmad, the session featured Mr. Heejun Yoon from the Korean Federation of Community Credit Cooperatives (KFCC), Korea and Mr. Paladi Mohanaiah from National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) India as panellists, who discussed digital empowerment, financial inclusion, and cooperative sector contributions. The second forum explored building resilient economies through digital transformation for cooperative business, moderated by Mr. Raul Montemayor from the Philippines Cooperative Center (PCC), Philippines with panelists Dr. Agung Sudjatmoko DEKOPIN, Indonesia and Mr. Ahmad Shakir Ahmad Ubaidah KOPETRO, Malaysia discussing Indonesia’s cooperative landscape, digital competency, and supportive government policies. Additionally, ANGKASA shared its successful Salary Deduction and Credit System, enhancing financial stability for Malaysian cooperatives.

Participants also visited Bank Raqyat to gain insights into the nation’s financial history and enjoyed historical landmarks and local arts and crafts. The combined experience of the conference and the visit enriched the delegates’ understanding of cooperative banking and the cultural context of Malaysia, fostering a deeper appreciation for the region’s financial and historical heritage.

As the digital world continues to evolve, cooperatives must embrace new opportunities while overcoming challenges. This chapter has highlighted how trade, technology, and financial innovation are helping cooperatives become stronger and more sustainable. Whether through climate-smart farming, digital finance, or AI-driven business models, these initiatives are paving the way for a more connected and efficient cooperative sector.

To cite this part

ICA-AP, « Driving Cooperative Growth through Trade, Digitalization, and Innovation », in ICA-AP Annual Activity Report 2024, New Delhi, 2024, online .