The 15th ICA-AP Regional Assembly met on 30 November in Seoul, the Republic of Korea, and online, to discuss opportunities in the region and to hold elections to the regional board.
Dr Chandrapal Singh Yadav, was elected President, with Cai Zhenhong (ACFSMC, China) and Dato Dr Abdul Fattah Abdullah (ANGKASA, Malaysia), joining him as Vice Presidents.
“I thank all my fellow co-operators for their unflinching support and cooperation,” said Dr Yadav, following the results. “I am looking forward to working with you all to realise my 10-point Vision into reality.”
Speaking about this vision before the election, he said: “I will work towards encouraging more countries from the Asia and Pacific region to join as members of ICA-AP. I will ensure the expression of the democratic character and autonomy of the cooperative movement. I will work tirelessly to expand education and training initiatives across the region, and build a roadmap for innovation.”
Dr Yadav is a Member of the Upper House of Indian Parliament (Rajya Sabha) and Chairman of Krishak Bharti Cooperative Ltd. (KRIBHCO) and all its subsidiaries. He is also the President of NCUI, the apex institution of cooperative movement in India, and on the Boards of the International Raiffeisen Union (IRU, Germany), the National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation of India (NCCF) and the National Agriculture Cooperative Marketing Federation (NAFED), among others.
The event was opened by Mr Sung-hee Lee, Chairman of the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation, Korea, who was presented with an ICA-AP memento after his welcome remarks, by Mr Balu Iyer, ICA-AP Regional Director.
Also in attendance with ICA President, Ariel Guarco, who welcomed ICA-AP delegates to the World Cooperative Congress, highlighting the region’s importance: “I am convinced that your region will continue to be an important pillar for the global cooperative movement,” he said.
Mr Guarco also offered congratulations to Dr Yadav, adding: “I am looking forward to working together with you to strengthen the cooperative movement in both Asia and Pacific and at a global stage.”
