The ICA-AP held its Regional Board Meeting online on 27th October 2020 from 11:00 to 14:00 (IST). The physical meeting was moved online due to the continuing COVID-19 crisis.

Mr. Li Chunsheng, Chairperson of the Regional Board extended a warm welcome to all the 36 members who joined from the eight countries – Nepal, Indonesia, India, Malaysia, Pakistan, Japan, Korea, Sri Lanka, and China. The Board also observed a one-minute silence in the memory of Mr Sethu Madhavan and Dr. T. Paranjothi whom we lost in the month of September 2020.

The key agenda for the meeting included discussions on – the date, venue, and mode of the 14th ICA-AP Regional Assembly and the upcoming Board elections, the activities and financial report of ICA-AP for the period January to August 2020, the draft activities and budget plan of ICA-AP for 2021, the membership situation, and the status of 2020 subscription fees.

The Board members from National Cooperative Union of India (NCUI), Malaysian National Cooperative Movement (ANGKASA), and  Japanese Consumers’ Cooperative Union (JCCU) shared the updates on the situation and response work of COVID-19 in their respective countries. The Chairpersons of the education and youth committees of ICA-AP also shared their respective updates. The online ToT conducted by the Women’s Committee for grassroots women trainers and the Go-Green campaign organized by the Youth Committee were much appreciated by Mr Li Chunsheng.

The Board, after much deliberation, decided to conduct a hybrid assembly wherein the 14th ICA-AP Regional Assembly will be held online in February 2021 and the board elections, will be held in-person during the 33rd World Cooperative Congress in December 2021 in Seoul, Republic of Korea.

Mr Balu, Regional Director, ICA-AP presented the activities and financial report for the period January-August 2020, which was approved by the Board. He also presented the current membership (at present ICA-AP has 109 members from 32 countries) and subscription fee situation; he further requested and encouraged the Board to follow-up with the members from their respective countries for the due subscription fee. The Board also approved ICA-APs draft work plan and budget projections for the year 2021.

Mr Balu informed the Board about the 60th anniversary celebrations of ICA-AP and invited everyone to be a part of it. The next Regional Board was decided to be held online in February 2020 before the Regional Assembly. The Regional Director was authorised to fix the date in consultation with the ICA-AP President.