During the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the National Cooperative Union of India (NCUI) held on Saturday in New Delhi, Harsh Sanghani, the newly elected President of the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) Youth Committee, was graciously felicitated.
Sanghani has created history by becoming the first Indian to hold this prestigious position.
The ICA Youth Committee, a global thematic body of the International Cooperative Alliance, represents young cooperative leaders worldwide. It works to strengthen youth participation in cooperatives by advocating for their voices in policymaking, promoting cooperative entrepreneurship, and nurturing leadership through initiatives such as toolkits, youth forums, and exchange programs.
Prior to Sanghani, the committee was led by Spain-based Ana Aguirre, who served as the inaugural President under the current framework. Her decision to step down earlier this year led to the election process, culminating in Sanghani’s victory at the ICA meeting in Manchester.
Sanghani’s election comes at a pivotal time, coinciding with the United Nations’ declaration of 2025 as the International Year of Cooperatives. It reflects ICA’s commitment to empowering youth leaders to take the cooperative movement forward in addressing pressing global challenges, including climate change, economic inequality, and sustainable livelihoods.
Felicitating him at the AGM, NCUI leaders expressed pride in his achievement and underlined that his election marks a new milestone for India in the global cooperative movement.
