Hangzhou, China, will host the 5th Asia-Pacific Cooperative Youth Summit (APCYS 5.0) from September 1 to 4, bringing together young cooperative leaders, innovators, entrepreneurs, policymakers and development partners to explore how cooperatives can adapt to the digital economy and artificial intelligence.
Organised under the ICA-EU Financial Framework Partnership Agreement’s #Coops4Dev programme, the summit will focus on “Future-Ready Cooperatives: Youth Shaping Ethical AI and Digital Economies”. The programme seeks to give young people a stronger role in shaping responsible technology adoption while preserving cooperative values.
The four-day summit will combine keynote sessions, plenaries, capacity-building activities and Coop Pitch mentoring with youth-led initiatives. A Policy Hack Dialogue, Youth Open Mic and Story Circle and the Coop Live Pitch will provide platforms for young participants to present ideas and solutions. The event will conclude with the APCYS 5.0 Commitment, a Go Green Campaign and field visits to cooperatives and AI-focused companies.
Speakers and participants include representatives of ICA-AP, China’s cooperative sector, ILO, UNRISD and youth organisations, including India’s Harsh Sanghani of the ICA Youth Committee.
