Resilience shown by Cooperatives across the world during the Covid-19 has demonstrated that it is with cooperation, and not competition, that we can move forward to achieve economic growth, social solidarity and sustainability, said Dr. Ariel Guarco, President of International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) during his second visit to the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) headquarters on September 28, 2021.  “This crisis of Covid-19 has shown that we need to cooperate and work towards a new world where there is gender equality, peace and growth,” he said while praising the efforts of the cooperatives in India which he asserted have been instruments of change over the years.

“And they have a lot to show in future to lead the world,” said the ICA President, who during his visit to India had also met the new Minister of Cooperation, Mr Amit Shah recently. Dr Guarco said that opening up of the Ministry exclusively for cooperatives also opens up new opportunities and possibilities for the sector which has tremendous potential to secure the society during crises like Covid-19 pandemic. Asserting that the governments should promote cooperatives, Dr Guarco who is himself a corporator from Argentina, assured all help to the cooperative sector in India through the global alliance. The cooperative movement is made of over 3 million cooperatives with a total membership of approximately 1 billion people worldwide from all sectors and regions.

Welcoming the ICA President, who is on India’s visit for the second time, Mr Sundeep Kumar Nayak, Managing Director NCDC said that the Ministry is looking towards ICA’s support in three areas including assistance in setting up a centre on global best practices in cooperatives in India, boosting exports between cooperative to cooperative (C2C) and a special session for new cooperatives at the world cooperative meet to be held a few months later in Seoul.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Chandra Pal Singh, President Krishak Bharati Cooperative Limited (KRIBHCO) said, with the formation of the new Ministry, the government is keen to work on “Sahakar se Samriddhi” and NCDC by providing loan is helping in development of the cooperatives and hence to the poor people and farmers at the last mile. He expressed hope that with the establishment of the new Ministry, cooperatives will gain new heights.