By : News Editor
Jordan Daily – The 11th Ministerial Cooperative Conference for Asia-Pacific countries, under the patronage of Jordan’s Prime Minister Dr. Bisher Al-Khasawneh, kicked off today in Jordan, marking the first time the event has been held in the Middle East since its inception in 1990.
The conference, themed “Partnerships between the Government and Cooperatives for Resilience, Sustainable Development, and Inclusive Growth,” brought together representatives from 30 states spanning Asia, Arab States, the Pacific, and North Africa, according to a statement to Jordan Daily.
The event was attended by Princess Basma bint Ali , Eng. Khaled Al-Huneifat, Minister of Agriculture and Chairman of the Board of Jordan Cooperative Cooperation Directors (JCC).
Al-Huneifat highlighted the conference’s objective to strengthen partnerships between governments and cooperatives, aiming to foster sustainable development across economic, social, cultural, and environmental sectors. He emphasized the importance of cultivating a cooperative identity within societies.
The conference, co-hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture, JCC, and the Cooperative Alliance of Asian and Pacific States (ICA-AP), seeks to bolster Jordan’s partnerships with participating countries and underscores the significance of sustainable development policies for cooperative movements to contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Al-Huneifat also drew attention to the UN General Assembly’s designation of 2025 as the Year of Cooperatives, stressing the conference’s role in nurturing bilateral partnerships between states and cooperatives for inclusive social and economic development.
Ariel Guarko, President of the International Cooperative Alliance, lauded Jordan’s stability under King Abdullah II’s leadership, emphasizing the need for productive partnerships between governments and cooperatives to enhance the cooperative environment and foster inclusive sustainable development.
Abdelfattah Al-Shalabi, Director-General of JCC, underscored the efforts of the Ministry of Agriculture and JCC in collaboration with ICA-AP to organize the conference. He stressed the need to fortify the cooperative environment through legal frameworks and policies that acknowledge the value of cooperatives in society and the economy.
Dr. Chandra Pal Yadav, President of the Asia-Pacific International Cooperative Alliance (ICAAP), congratulated Jordan on its Silver Jubilee and highlighted the transformative potential of cooperatives in empowering communities and promoting sustainable development.
The conference, attended by representatives from 30 states including Jordan, Egypt, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Lebanon, Palestine, Libya, Syria, Morocco, Australia, China, Fiji, India, Iran, Japan, Kenya, South Korea, Malaysia, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Turkey, Thailand, Vietnam, Netherlands, Argentina, and the United States, aims to facilitate dialogue and cooperation between governments and cooperatives to address current and emerging issues.
The event is anticipated to yield a roadmap for concrete steps towards a more equitable, inclusive, and sustainable future, reinforcing the role of cooperatives in contributing to societies’ economic, social, and cultural development.
