More than 600 cooperative leaders from over 100 countries have come together for the ICA meetings at Manchester in the UK to participate in the International Cooperative Alliance’s (ICA) Board Meeting and Extraordinary General Assembly. This significant global gathering, held on July 2, 2025, marks the opening of the “Festival of Co-operatives,” a four-day celebration of the ICA’s 130th anniversary and the United Nations-declared International Year of Cooperatives 2025. The conference coincides with the United Nations’ International Day of Cooperatives on July 5.
A high-level Indian cooperative delegation led by Dr. Chandra Pal Singh Yadav, President of the National Cooperative Union of India (NCUI), and IFFCO Chairman Dileep Sanghani has reached Manchester, UK. India’s strong presence reflects its growing leadership in the global cooperative movement. Alongside Yadav and Sanghani, IFFCO Managing Director Dr. U.S. Awasthi later joined the delegation, which included representatives from prominent Indian cooperative institutions. Their participation underlines India’s commitment to cooperative development and global solidarity at a time when the sector is receiving unprecedented attention and government support domestically.
Hosted jointly by The Co-operative Group and Co-operatives UK, the event is set in the historic city of Manchester, the birthplace of the modern cooperative movement, where the Rochdale Pioneers established the first successful cooperative store in 1844. Celebrating 180 years of that milestone, the gathering also marks the ICA’s founding 130 years ago, making this year’s assembly both commemorative and forward-looking.
ICA President Ariel Guarco, speaking ahead of the week-long festivities, emphasized the symbolic importance of returning to Greater Manchester. “In Greater Manchester, 180 years ago, the Rochdale Pioneers started this journey by building a better world for their community. We look forward to bringing more than 400 delegates representing 100 countries to learn, share and celebrate together,” Guarco said.
The reception for delegates was hosted at Manchester Town Hall and Angel Square by the UK’s Co-operative Group. The Co-op Group’s CEO, Shirine Khoury-Haq, said, “The values of co-operation were born in the North West and they remain just as relevant today. This year demonstrates how co-operatives are leading the way in creating global economic connections that benefit everyone.”
Indian cooperative leaders have expressed pride in being part of this historic gathering. In a tweet, IFFCO MD Dr. Awasthi noted the significance of ICA’s 130-year journey and praised the collective efforts of cooperators worldwide in building a better and fairer world. India’s robust cooperative network, comprising over 8 lakh cooperatives and over 30 crore members, plays a vital role in agriculture, rural development, and now even emerging sectors like digital technology and climate action.
The UK Co-op Congress, hosted by Co-operatives UK in Rochdale, features keynote addresses from public figures including actor and producer Steve Coogan, economic commentator Grace Blakeley, and Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham. Co-operatives UK CEO Rose Marley said, “It’s wonderful that we get this opportunity to showcase the UK movement, especially during the UN International Year of Cooperatives.”
Corporate and sectoral leaders such as Stephen Gill, CEO of VME Coop, and Phil Ponsonby, CEO of Midcounties Co-operative, also emphasized the importance of this global convergence as the ICA prepares to adopt a new strategy for 2026–2030. Gill noted that shared ownership and cooperative values offer a resilient and inclusive path forward for economies across the world.
As India and other nations look to embed cooperative models in their national development frameworks, the Manchester gathering reaffirms that the spirit of mutual aid, self-help, and democratic participation remains as relevant today as it was in Rochdale 180 years ago.
