Engaging with the South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (SAARC)

In order to strengthen cooperative institutions in the Asia Pacific region, ICA-AP is making efforts to engage with the regional entities such as  Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Gulf Cooperating Countries (GCC) and the South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (SAARC).

His Excellency Mr. Arjun Bahadur Thapa, Secretary General of SAARC attended the  Regional Consultation held in Kathmandu on December 14 and 15, 2015.  H.E. Mr. Thapa motivated the gathering by stating that co-operatives work for the common good of people and are key to achieving inclusive growth. He further mentioned that there should be an endeavour to develop a SAARC Blueprint for Cooperatives and formation of a regional consortium of cooperatives for deeper integration. He called for the need to explore the possibility of having a memorandum of understanding ( MOU) with ICA-AP.

ICA-AP Delegates with the HE Mr. Arun Thapa (center)

In order to take forward ICA-AP’s engagement with the SAARC and build on the commitment of  SAARC towards  cooperatives, ICA-AP staff  attended a meeting with the Secretary General at the SAARC Secretariat on 28 April 2016. Prior to the meeting, ICA-AP consulted the National Cooperative Federation of Nepal (NCF) on the next steps towards building  and continuing relationship with the SAARC Secretariat. A detailed discussion on, ‘ways to integrate the agenda of cooperatives within the SAARC development agenda’ was held. Definitive ideas were discussed and the following tentative actions were decided:

-          The  SAARC Secretariat, under the leadership of the Secretary General will organize a meeting  to  introduce  ICA-AP to its  Directors  from  member countries. The objective will be for ICA-AP to get introduced to the SAARC system, its programs and priorities. Similarly, ICA-AP will introduce its activities and priorities to the SAARC Directors. The meeting will also explore how  ICA-AP, as  a regional body of cooperatives having  a wide membership network in SAARC countries, and the SAARC Secretariat can work together for sustainable development.

-          A SAARC regional workshop focused on cooperatives will be held later in the year (ideally in September). As per SAARC rules, the request for a workshop should come through the concerned  Ministry of a SAARC member country to the SAARC secretariat. NCF, being the representative of cooperatives in Nepal, will liaise with the Ministry of Cooperatives in Nepal  to propose a workshop to the SAARC Secretariat. ICA-AP will collaborate  and take lead in organizing the workshop along with the Ministry of Cooperatives, the SAARC Secretariat and NCF.