The 2nd AP Cooperative Registrars Forum in Ho Chi Minh City of Vietnam kicked off Tuesday with more than 150 delegates from around the world. The Forum is being attended by registrars, government representatives, ICA-AP member organizations, international agencies, CSOs and cooperators from Vietnam.
Themed “Creating Enabling legal framework and policies to promote Sustainable Development of Cooperatives in the 21st century” the VCA President Bao nominated as the conference chair. Abhilaksh Likhi, Central Registrar from India would speak on “Co-operatives in promotion of sustainable food systems & production”.
The enthusiastic participants kept twitting every now and then from the conference. One wrote “We’re here at Ho Chi Minh City in for the 2nd AP Cooperative Registrars’ Forum! We’re kicking things off on the 17th so please follow us”.
Another wrote “Mr. Bruno Roelants, Director General of ICA is now discussing the ICA strategy, 2019 Kigali General Assembly and the 2020 ICA Congress at the Regional Board Meeting”.
Opening presentation was made by Kaori Abe of FAO regional office. He said that MDGs allowed a dramatic reduction of the undernourished, especially in the Asia Pacific but Zero Hunger still a far cry. He also said 
cooperatives are a strategic and important partner of FAO and together we can achieve SDG goals.
The Second ICA-AP Cooperative Registrars’ Forum would continue till April 19, 2019. Several cooperators from India are participating including the Central Registrar Abhishekh Lekhi, NCUI Chief Executive N Satyanarayan, Nandini Azad, among others.
The Forum will deliberate on trends in the 21st century and their impact on co-operatives; ascertain legislation and policies that affect co-operatives in relations to new and emerging areas; exchange knowledge and best cases in creation of an enabling environment; collaboration between governments and the cooperative movement in addressing current socio-economic issues and working towards implementation of the SDGs.
Some of the important topics that are slated to be discussed include “Status of Co-operative Development in the 21st Century” by Mr. Chang-Hee Lee, Director, ILO and “Co-operatives and Producer Organizations in the Asia-Pacific” by Ms. Kaore Abe, FAO Regional Office.
Co-operatives and Producer Organizations in the Asia-Pacific would be given by Mr. Hyungsik Eum, Strategy and Statistics Coordinator, ICA-EU Partnership, ICA. Mrs. Meriam binti Mat Nor, Deputy Executive Chairman, Malaysia Cooperative Societies Commission, Malaysia is also going to speak on the occasion.
