Kerala Cooperative Expo 2025, held from April 21 to 30 at the historic Kanakakkunnu Palace in Thiruvananthapuram, marked a significant milestone in celebrating and strengthening Kerala’s vibrant cooperative movement.
Organized by the Kerala State Cooperative Department, the third edition of the expo aligned with the United Nations’ International Year of Cooperatives 2025, celebrated under the global theme, “Cooperatives Build a Better World.”
The ten-day event was inaugurated by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, in the presence of Premkumar, Bihar’s Cooperation Minister, and V.N. Vasavan, Kerala’s Cooperation Minister.
Over 250 stalls showcased the diversity and dynamism of Kerala’s cooperative sector, which includes more than 23,000 institutions spanning finance, healthcare, education, tourism, infrastructure, and women’s empowerment.
One of the standout participants was the Kerala State Cooperative Bank (Kerala Bank), which emerged as a star of the expo. The Bank’s impressive and theme-aligned pavilion earned it two prestigious awards: Best Theme Stall and Best Stall among Apex Cooperative Institutions in Kerala. These were presented by Minister V.N. Vasavan to Jorty M. Chacko, CEO of Kerala Bank, during the grand valedictory ceremony.
Reflecting the cooperative year’s theme, Kerala Bank’s pavilion underscored values of social inclusion, economic empowerment, and sustainable development. In addition to informative exhibits, the stall featured public engagement elements such as puzzle games, Rubik’s cube contests, and a striking photo point titled “Butterfly Park”, which became a crowd favorite, especially among children.
The closing ceremony was graced by Satish Marathe, Director of the Central Board of the Reserve Bank of India, as the chief guest. He commended Kerala’s cooperative framework, calling it “a model for other states, including larger ones like Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra.”
Beyond exhibitions, the expo offered a platform for critical discourse and learning. A total of 12 expert-led seminars were conducted, featuring speakers from across India and abroad. Topics ranged from cooperative finance to social enterprises, creating opportunities for collaboration and innovation within the sector.
Complementing the seminars were a cooperative film festival, cultural performances, and interactive sessions—illustrating the socio-cultural depth of the cooperative ecosystem. Policymakers, industry leaders, cooperators, and the general public engaged in dynamic exchanges, discussing future paths for cooperative growth and resilience.
With robust participation, strategic recognition of outstanding institutions like Kerala Bank, and thought-provoking dialogues, the expo reaffirmed Kerala’s leadership in the cooperative domain. It served as both a platform and catalyst—driving innovation, sustainability, and inclusive development through the cooperative model.
