The National Cooperative Union of India (NCUI) on Tuesday hosted a high-level ministerial delegation from the Republic of Mauritius, reaffirming its growing role as India’s premier cooperative institution in promoting global partnerships and sharing the country’s successful cooperative development model.
The Mauritian delegation was led by Sayed Muhammad Aadil Ameer Meea, Minister for Industry, SME and Cooperatives, and included Raj Kishore Bunjun, Permanent Secretary, and Mohammad Zahir Arshaad Hyda, Advisor. The visiting team was accompanied by AARDO Secretary General Dr. Manoj Nardeosingh and Dr. Khushnood Ali, Head of Research Division and Programme Coordinator.
The delegation received a traditional welcome from NCUI Chief Executive Pankaj Srivastava, IRS, who presented shawls and mementoes before introducing senior NCUI officials to the visiting dignitaries.
Addressing the gathering, Srivastava highlighted NCUI’s pivotal role in strengthening India’s cooperative movement while actively fostering international cooperation. He also outlined the transformative initiatives launched by the Ministry of Cooperation under the vision of “Sahakar Se Samriddhi,” aimed at revitalising cooperatives from the grassroots level and making them more competitive, transparent and technology-driven.
A detailed presentation by NCUI Executive Director Ritesh Dey showcased the remarkable progress of India’s cooperative sector, recent policy reforms, digital initiatives and the expanding role of NCUI in capacity building, education, advocacy and international engagement.
The presentation underlined how India’s cooperative reforms are creating new opportunities for sustainable rural development and inclusive economic growth.
Mauritius Minister Meea shared his country’s efforts to modernise its cooperative ecosystem while transforming Mauritius into a service-oriented economy. He expressed keen interest in learning from India’s cooperative experience and exploring stronger institutional partnerships with NCUI.
Dr. Manoj Nardeosingh stressed the growing importance of international cooperation, knowledge sharing and institutional networking in strengthening cooperative enterprises across developing countries. He appreciated NCUI’s leadership in promoting global cooperative dialogue and capacity building.
The interaction witnessed extensive discussions on cooperative governance, policy reforms, institutional capacity building, member services and opportunities for future collaboration between Indian and Mauritian cooperative institutions. Both sides exchanged views on adopting best practices and expanding technical cooperation to promote sustainable and inclusive development.
The programme concluded with a vote of thanks by NCUI Director Sandhya Kapoor, followed by a networking lunch and a group photograph, marking another milestone in NCUI’s efforts to position India as a global knowledge partner in the cooperative sector.
