ASEAN Cooperative Summit and ACOTEX 2016
The ASEAN Cooperative Summit and ACOTEX 2016 was held by the ASEAN Cooperative Organization (ACO), DEKOPIN and the Government of Java Barat in Bekasi City on August 2 and 3, 2016. The Summit involved conference, exhibition and business meetings. The Summit was inaugurated by the Honorable Minister of Small and Medium Enterprises and Cooperatives AAGN Puspayoga in the presence of Dr. Ahmad Heriyawan, Governor of Java Barat Province, officials and cooperators from the ten ACO member countries. Minister Puspayoga in his address stressed on the need to reform, reorient and develop cooperatives and laid emphasis in the areas of infrastructure, maritime, energy and tourism. He highlighted the need to develop a sound database of cooperatives and monitor their progress. Governor Heriyawan in his address recalled the significant contributions made by cooperatives in the Java region (25,471 cooperatives with 5.9 million members) and the need to enhance their quality and effectiveness. During the opening ceremony, representatives of ACO took a pledge (The Bekasi Declaration) to commit the power of cooperatives to address social and economic development and to develop trade in the ASEAN region. The Seminar at the Summit focused on the role of cooperatives in the ASEAN region and featured the following speakers - Balu Iyer, Regional Director, ICA-AP; Ms.Netty Prasetyani, Head of West Java Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection Agency; Dr. Shafari Yakuub Executive Director of ACO; and Dr. Robby Tulus.
