The National Cooperative Union of India (NCUI) recently hosted Dr. Paul Thambar, Associate Professor at the Monash Business School of Monash University, Melbourne, Australia, during his visit to New Delhi, highlighting the growing engagement between the Indian cooperative sector and global academia.
During the interaction, Mr. Ritesh Dey, Executive Director (International Relations) at NCUI, presented an overview of the Indian cooperative movement and outlined the organisation’s recent initiatives aimed at strengthening cooperative institutions across the country. The session was attended by NCUI Executive Directors Mr. Ashish Dwivedi and Mr. Rajeev Sharma, along with Ms. Inderpreet Kaur, Assistant Director (International Relations).
A key highlight of the visit was the presentation on the “Coop Kitchen” initiative, which has been developed as an innovative model within the cooperative framework. The initiative demonstrates how cooperative institutions can combine entrepreneurship and community engagement to promote sustainable and inclusive development.
Dr. Thambar appreciated NCUI’s role in promoting the cooperative movement in India and commended the Coop Kitchen initiative as a creative approach to cooperative-led enterprise.
He also experienced the hospitality of Coop Kitchen during his visit, interacting with NCUI officials and learning about the organisation’s ongoing efforts to expand the reach of cooperatives.
NCUI officials said such engagements with international academic institutions help bring fresh perspectives and strengthen global understanding of the cooperative sector. They added that collaboration with scholars and researchers contributes to knowledge exchange and supports the continued growth and modernization of India’s cooperative movement.