It’s the birthday of ICA Asia Pacific region today. The regional office of the global body –the International Co-operative Alliance [ICA] was set up in 1960 on this very day. Interestingly, it is also the day when weeklong Cooperative Week celebrations begin.
The ICA Regional Office & Education Centre [ICA ROEC] was opened on November 14, 1960 by late Shri Jawaharlal Nehru, first Prime Minister of India.
Speaking on the occasion, the current President of ICA AP, Dr Chandra Pal Singh greeted the members and reiterated that the cooperative movement has to spread to each corner of the Asia Pacific regions.
Having returned from Manila recently after having attended the Regional Assembly, Dr Chandra Pal said the discussions in Manila were very fruitful. He was also very happy that almost all the member countries participated in the General Assembly.
ICA ROEC was the first to be set up by the ICA. It was the precursor and a model for other regional offices to be set up in Africa and Latin America and Europe.
During 1960-1963 it was called ICA Regional Office for South-East Asia, from 1963 to 1990 it was called ICA Regional Office for Asia and since 1990 it is known as International Cooperative Alliance Asia Pacific [ICA-AP]. The ICA-Asia Pacific is presently located in New Delhi.