The controversy over who ( govt representative or cooperative leader) would sign the bilateral agreement between Indian and South Africa at the BRICS summit was resolved in favour of cooperative leader, Indian Cooperative has learnt.
A bilateral agreement was signed between National Cooperative Union of India (NCUI) and South-African National Apex Cooperative (SANACO). Dr Dinesh, Chief Executive of NCUI and not the joint Secretary Mr Bhutani initialled the agreement.
Readers would recall that a section of cooperative leaders had been sore about the fact that a cooperative delegation was being led by the Central Registrar rather than the NCUI president. And the prospects of an Indian govt. official signing the cooperative agreement had only riled the cooperative circles no end.
The agreement was signed with the aim of facilitating exchange of information, views, partnership in trade and business between the two countries.
Birendra Singh, Chairman of National Consumer Cooperative Federation (NCCF), however felt it odd entering into bilateral ties when five countries-India, China, Russia, Brazil and South Africa were the participating countries.
Talking to Indian Cooperative Mr Singh said “ there should have been a joint agreement with all the five players.”
As with India, South Africa struck bilateral ties with other countries separately thereby defeating the spirit of BRICS, experts sum up.
The BRICS initiative was launched with the aim of boosting mutual exchange between the partner countries who account for 23% of the world geography and 40 percent of the world population. It aimed at transforming the partner countries into dominant economies by 2050.
Three commissions were set up in the Cape Town meeting. India participated in the commission on “collaboration on capacity building and improved sustainability of cooperatives in BRICS countries.
The Central Registrar Mr Bhutani acted as the Facilitator moderating the debate and summing up its conclusions.The participating countries made a presentation of their respective achievements in the field of cooperatives. The Chief Executive of NCUI Dr Dinesh presented the Indian story.
