Asia-Pacific Co-operative Ministers' Conference: Promoting Co-operative Growth

1. THE ASIA PACIFIC CO-OPERATIVE MINISTERS’ CONFERENCEHISTORICAL BACKGROUND & FACTS CHAN HO CHOI (Dr.) Regional Director – ICA - AP

2. OBJECTIVE • To bring together Governments, Co-operatives and other Stake holders to discuss and resolve growth-restricting issues faced by co-operatives.

3. PURPOSE • ToDevelop policies conducive to co-operative growth and enactment of favorable legislation reforms • Reiterate the fact that co-operative are the agents of social cohesion and have great potential for socio-economic development in diversity • Facilitate the governments and co-operative in Asia Pacific countries to integrate resources for developing and implementing enabling legal and policy environment and also introducing the instrument of judiciary for safeguarding the interest of the co-operative. • Facilitate exchange of information and contribute to mainstream cooperative affairs with socio-economic agenda of the governments

4. CONFERENCE PERIODICITY • Each of the Ministers’ Conference has preceded by an in-depth consultation between the cooperative leaders and the government since 1990. • Ministers’ Conference: Once in four years. • Last Asia Pacific Co-operative Ministers’ Conference was held in Kuala Lumpur from 12 to 15 March 2007. • Coop-Government Dialogue: Once in two years • Last Coop-Government Dialogue was held in China during the ICA-AP Regional Assembly in 2010

5. TECHNICAL ROLE OF ICA • Draft agenda of the Conference is prepared by ICA-AP to set broad contours for the deliberations. • Framework of the Draft declaration of the conference is prepared in advance by ICA-AP on the basis of Research, Questionnaires and feedback from various Co-operative Movements and Governments.

6. GOVERNMENT – ICA COLLABORATION • ICA is a member-based organization committed to serve members. • ICA interacts with the Governments to get desired priority ranking for the cooperatives. • ICA doesn’t have the mandate to advice governments on the policy matters and to overcome this limitation requests the Governments to host such conferences to capitalize on the experiences of different governments.

7. 1990 – 1st Cooperative Ministers’ Conference – Sydney, Australia • From 8 to 11 February 1990 • Theme “Cooperative Government Collaborative Strategies for the Development of Cooperatives During 90s” • Attended by 99 delegates (9 Ministers) from 19 countries and 10 international organizations

8. Declaration of the 1st Ministers’ Conference • Governments to develop clear perspective for the development of coops in specific areas during ’90s. • Priority be given for building self-reliant Cooperative Movements • Initiatives to develop skills and transfer of technology to facilitate cooperative trade • ICA to catalyze Coop – Govt. relationship

9. 1992 – 2nd Cooperative Ministers’ Conference – Jakarta, Indonesia • From 18 to 21 February 1992 • Theme “Co-operative - Government Relationship” • Attended by 164 delegates (17 Ministers) from 23 countries and 12 international organizations.

10. Declaration of the 2nd Ministers’ Conference • Government to provide appropriate coop legislation & administrative policies to suit local situation • Co-operatives to play a conscious role in the propagation, promotion and strengthening of coop values • Governments & coops to create Regional Co-operative Development Fund with ICA for holding Ministers’ Conferences.

11. 1994 – 3rd Cooperative Ministers’ Conference – Colombo, Sri Lanka • From 26 to 30 July 1994 • Theme “Cooperative Government Collaborative Strategies for the Development of Cooperatives” • Attended by 140 delegates (15 Ministers) from 24 countries and 10 international organizations.

12. Declaration of the 3rd Ministers’ Conference • Recognize coops as an effective instrument of economic development & poverty reduction • Transform cooperative structures in the context of economic liberalization • Set up a Regional Coop Council with membership open to Govt, International Organizations & ICA Member Coops.

13. 1997 – 4th Cooperative Ministers’ Conference – Chaingmai, Thailand • From 18 to 22 March 1997 • Theme “Cooperatives in a Changing Socio-Economic Environment” • Attended by 124 delegates (10 Ministers) from 22 countries and 9 international organizations.

14. Declaration of the 4th Ministers’ Conference • Concerned Ministries to advocate and ensure proper understanding of ICA Coop Identity Statement among Govt agencies involved in the development of coops. • Multi lateral agencies like World Bank to extend preferential treatment to cooperatives. • Full participation and leadership of women in cooperatives to be ensured.

15. 1999 – 5th Cooperative Ministers’ Conference – Beijing, China • From 11 to 16 October 1999 • Theme: “New forms of Cooperation between Government & Cooperatives under a Conducive Environment”. • Attended by 163 delegates (9 Ministers) from 24 countries and 8 international organizations.

16. Declaration of the 5th Ministers’ Conference • Governments to pursue a strategy of disengagement from cooperatives so as to guarantee their autonomy & independence • Governments to recognize inherent strengths of coops in creating employment, reducing poverty and improving quality of life of people from community at large • Cooperatives to strictly adhere to legislative requirements on governance & sustainability.

17. 2002 – 6th Cooperative Ministers’ Conference – Kathmandu, Nepal • From 3 to 6 April 2002 • Theme : “Establishing Relevant Legislation & Policy for Cooperatives in the New Millennium” • Attended by 196 delegates (8 Ministers) from 18 countries and 9 international organizations.

18. Declaration of the 6th Ministers’ Conference • Governments to formulate and implement public policy that supports development of member-based cooperatives • Measure effectiveness of cooperative legislation & policy using innovative tools • Finance Ministries to assess the impact of taxation laws on cooperatives through special conference.

19. 2004 – 7th Cooperative Ministers’ Conference – New Delhi, India • From 1 to 6 February 2004 • Theme : “Establishing Supportive Co-operative Legislation for Sustainable Growth of Cooperatives” • Attended by 168 delegates (8 Ministers) from 17 countries and 9 international organizations.

20. Declaration of the 7th Ministers’ Conference • Coop legislation to be in harmony with the policy of govt. • Women’s role to be crystallized in the cooperative law. • Cooperatives to play important role in social sector development and allied areas in the changed globalize scenario. • Cooperative legislation to focus on vital aspects of member centered, community oriented and autonomous growth of the cooperatives.

21. 2007 – 8th Cooperative Ministers’ Conference –Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia • From 12 to 15 March, 2007 • Theme : “Fair Globalization through Co-operatives” • Attended by 177 delegates (10 Ministers) from 21 countries and 4 International Organisations.

22. Declaration of the 8th Ministers’ Conference • Encouragement of cooperative entrepreneurship by inculcating entrepreneurial spirit and skills among the members, leaders and managers of the cooperatives through education and training. • Attainment of economies of scale and strategic business alliances among cooperatives both domestically and internationally. • Role clarity among different tiers to enhance impact of the Cooperative Movement and • Harnessing the gains of the fair globalization and liberalization for the benefit of members.

23. IMPACT OF MINISTERS’ CONFERENCE • Greater consciousness developed about the need of government collaboration in the development of cooperatives. • National policies on cooperation developed after consultation between the governments and cooperative representatives. • Cooperative legislations reviewed and restrictive provisions in the coop legislation relaxed in many countries.

24. The 9th ASIA PACIFIC CO-OPERATIVE MINISTERS’ CONFERENCE THEME: “Enabling Co-operative Legal and Policy Environment for Sufficiency Economy” This , as the outcome of the deliberation of the coop dialogue 2010 and suggestions received from the host country, Royal Government of Thailand.

25. MAIN HIGHLIGHTS • Statements by Honorable Ministers in charge of Co-operatives. • Success Story presentations by Co-operative Leaders. • “How to Achieve the Objectives of the UN International Year of Co-operatives” • “Relevance of Cooperative Institution for Agricultural Development and Social Inclusion” • “The 4th Critical Study on Co-operative Legislation and Policy Reforms”

26. Attendance and Registrations • The Conference is represented by 14 Ministers In-charge of Co-operatives from the region along with five government representatives. Some statements will be read by permanent and under Secretaries. • 21 countries are represented today. More than 299 delegates have registered to participate in the conference

27. OUTPUT EXPECTED • To arrive at an agreeable “Uniform Code of Practice” for the governments and co-operative in the region covering broader fundamental issues such as 1) Democracy, 2) Establishing Enabling Legal and Policy Environment and 3) Support by governments with greater accountability on the part of co-operative

28. THANK YOU A N D B E S T W I S H E S F O R S U C C E S S F U L D E L I B E R A T I O N S