In a powerful display of international solidarity and cooperative spirit, the Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations in New York, in collaboration with the Permanent Missions of Kenya and Mongolia, hosted a high-level commemorative event titled ‘Cooperatives and Sustainable Development: Maintaining Momentum and Exploring New Avenues’ to mark the International Year of Cooperatives.
Addressing the gathering through a pre-recorded video, Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah highlighted the growing significance of cooperatives in addressing critical global challenges such as inequality, food insecurity, and inclusive development.
He reiterated Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Sahkar Se Samriddhi’ (Prosperity through Cooperation), emphasizing how the cooperative model offers sustainable, community-driven solutions to contemporary problems.
Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, spoke about the deep historical and cultural roots of cooperation in Indian society, citing ancient Sanskrit texts. He lauded the Indian cooperative sector’s more than century-long contribution to national development and called for enhanced global cooperation in this domain.
Permanent Representatives from Kenya, Mongolia, Cabo Verde, and Colombia took the stage to share the success stories of cooperatives in their respective countries. They stressed the need to utilize international platforms like the UN to raise awareness about the transformative power of cooperatives in building resilient, equitable societies.
The event also featured inputs from Ariel Enrique Guarco, President of the International Cooperative Alliance, who emphasized the role of cooperatives in poverty alleviation, employment generation, and social inclusion.
Ms. Cynthia Samuel-Olonjuwon, Director of the ILO Office for the United Nations, reflected on how cooperatives serve as a bridge between economic growth and sustainable development.
Adding an Indian perspective, the Managing Director of NAFED, India, presented the inspiring journey of Indian cooperatives, underlining the unique ethos of shared ownership, mutual trust, and collective action.
The event served as a global platform for reaffirming the role of cooperatives in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and laid the foundation for stronger international partnerships anchored in cooperation, equity, and inclusive progress.
