A sizeable Indian cooperative contingent is heading to Panama for the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) Global Conference and General Assembly, carrying with it a significant voting bloc and strengthening the prospects of IFFCO Chairman Dileep Sanghani in the crucial ICA Global Board election.
Sanghani is among the candidates contesting 15 At-Large Director positions on the ICA Global Board, with polling scheduled for September 15 at the ICA General Assembly in Panama City. The ICA has listed 25 candidates representing 24 countries, with 15 seats available. One of the candidates from Nigeria has subsequently withdrawn, making the contest 24 active candidates for 15 positions.
Sanghani appears to enter the race from a position of considerable strength. The Indian delegation, led by Sanghani and ICA Asia-Pacific President Dr Chandrapal Singh Yadav, is expected to carry around 25 votes, providing a substantial block of support to the Indian candidate.
His appeal to voters comes after a period in which his profile within the international cooperative movement has risen sharply. Sanghani played a prominent role in hosting the ICA Global Cooperative Conference and General Assembly in New Delhi in 2024, an event that brought the global cooperative community together in India. He was also associated with the launch of the International Year of Cooperatives 2025 in New Delhi.
In his appeal to voters, Sanghani said that for over two decades he had been guided by the values of cooperation and leadership focused on creating lasting change. As Chairman of IFFCO, he said, he had worked to strengthen governance while embracing innovation to prepare the cooperative sector for a better future.
“As we approach the ICA Global Board Election in Panama, I seek your support to build a stronger global cooperative movement—one driven by collaboration, shared progress and lasting impact,” Sanghani said.
The ICA itself describes Sanghani as a cooperative leader with more than four decades of experience, highlighting his rural roots, four terms as a Member of Parliament, former role as Cooperation Minister, former presidency of NCUI and present leadership of IFFCO. The ICA profile also notes that he leads 35,700 cooperatives representing more than 50 million farmers.
For India, the election has significance beyond an individual candidature. Sanghani’s entry gives the rapidly expanding Indian cooperative movement an opportunity to secure a direct voice on the ICA’s highest governing body at a time when India is seeking a larger international role for cooperatives.
The 30-member ICA Global Board comprises the President, four regional Vice Presidents, representatives of eight sectoral organisations, the Youth and Gender Equality Committee presidents, and 15 At-Large Directors elected directly by ICA members. Ariel Enrique Guarco of Argentina is the sole candidate for ICA President.
With 15 positions available against 24 active candidates, strong institutional backing and an Indian voting bloc already travelling to Panama, Sanghani has a strong chance of securing a seat. His international experience, visibility after the successful 2024 India-hosted ICA Assembly and standing as Chairman of one of the world’s major farmer cooperatives could further strengthen his appeal among voters.
The election will therefore be closely watched in India, with Sanghani’s victory potentially marking a significant new chapter in the country’s growing influence within the global cooperative movement.
