On the occasion of 17th Indian Cooperative Congress, NCUI President said that “the Cooperative Congress will provide a common platform to all cooperatives to address their issues and chart out the strategies for the future….This Congress is even more significant as Hon’ble PM will be inaugurating the mega event and shall provide his margdarshan (guidance) to the cooperatives”. Describing the Congress as the biggest mega-event, he said that this year’s Congress will be attended by more than 3500 delegates of cooperative organizations from all parts of the country. He said that most importantly, the Congress will see wide participation of representatives of primary level cooperative societies.

The conference was attended by Chairmen/MDs of national level federations.  Dr Chandra Pal Singh Yadav, President, ICA-AP and Chairman KRIBHCO; Dollarai Kotecha, Chairman, NAFCARD; Dr Bijendra Singh, President, NAFED; Jyotindra Mehta, Chairman, NAFCUB; Vishal Singh, Chairman, NCCF; Uday Joshi, General Secretary, Sahkar Bharati were present on the occasion.

Dr. Chandra Pal Singh Yadav, President, International Cooperative Alliance Asia-Pacific, speaking on the occasion said that this year’s Congress has a special significance as it falls on the International Day of Cooperatives. This year’s theme of International Day of Cooperatives is “Cooperatives: Partners for Accelerated Sustainable Development”. Pointing out that this year’s Congress event has a strong international character; he said that more than 25 delegates from 10 countries are participating in this event. Some of the countries represented in this event include Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Philippines, Malaysia, Iran, etc. Further, he informed that the 34 ICA member courtiers’ representatives would be attending the 17th ICC on virtual mode. Elaborating upon the deliberations during the various plenary sessions, during the 17th Indian Cooperative Congress, he said that the discussions would focus primarily on formulation of new Cooperative Policy, the need for conducive legislation for cooperatives and the ways and means through which cooperatives can compete in the market economy by strengthening their business credentials.  


Background of the 17th Indian Cooperative Congress [1st – 2nd July 2023]
Shri Narendra Modi, Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, will inaugurate the 17th Indian Cooperative Congress, organized by National Cooperative Union of India (NCUI) on 1st–2nd July, 2023 at Delhi. The inaugural function will start from 11:00 a.m. at International Exhibition-cum-Convention Centre (IECC), Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. The theme of this year’s Indian Cooperative Congress is “Amrit Kaal – Prosperity through Cooperation for a Vibrant India”.
Shri Amit Shah, Hon’ble Union Minister for Home and Cooperation, will preside over the inaugural session on 1st July, 2023. The Valedictory function of the 17th Indian Cooperative Congress will be held on 2nd July, 2023 at 03:00 p.m., in which the Chief Guest will be Shri Om Birla, Hon’ble Speaker of Lok Sabha.
This year’s 17th Indian Cooperative Congress has a huge significance as it is organized at a time when the new Ministry of Cooperation, which was formed in July 2021, has taken more than 45 initiatives to strengthen the cooperative movement. Some of the major initiatives are as follows –
•    Model Bye-Laws for making PACS Multipurpose;
•    Strengthening of PACS through Computerization;
•    Establishment of Multipurpose PACS/Dairy/Fisheries Cooperative Societies (2 lakh new societies) in every Panchayat/ Village;
•    World’s largest Decentralized Grain Storage Program in Cooperative sector to ensure food security;
•    Relief in Income Tax Law for Co-operatives and Redressal of difficulties faced by Co-operative Banks;
•    Revival of Cooperative Sugar Mills;
•    Three new Multi-State Societies at the National Level in the domain of quality seed production & distribution, organic farming and export marketing;
•    New Cooperation Policy and National Cooperative Database and so on.
The various technical sessions during the Indian Cooperative Congress will not only discuss these initiatives of the Ministry of Cooperation, but also focus on the other key issues/ challenges before the cooperative movement.
The themes of the seven technical sessions are to held during the Congress:
1.    Conducive Cooperative Legislation and Policy Reforms
2.    Cross-Sectoral Collaborations for Strengthening Cooperative Movement
3.    Strengthening Cooperative Education, Training and Research
4.    Ease of doing Business for Competitive Cooperative Business Enterprises
5.    Innovation and Technology for Cooperative Governance
6.    Promoting Gender Equality and Social Inclusion
7.    Importance of Cooperative Credit System in Indian Economy

The themes of the Cooperative Congress aims to showcase the significant contributions of cooperatives in fostering sustainable development, empowering individuals, and driving economic growth. The event will serve as a platform for thought-provoking discussions, knowledge sharing, and networking opportunities, with a focus on charting the course for the cooperative movement in India.

Attendees can look forward to a diverse program comprising keynote addresses, panel discussions, and engaging presentations. Eminent speakers from various sectors will share their insights and experiences, shedding light on the crucial role of cooperatives in addressing societal challenges, promoting inclusive growth, and enhancing livelihood opportunities.

The key outcomes of the Indian Cooperative Congress will be to foster cooperative sectoral dialogue, highlight and exchange best practices, and develop actionable strategies to strengthen the cooperative movement in India.
Highlights of the Inaugural Function: The Hon’ble Prime Minister of India will launch and release NCUI’s innovative initiatives -
1.    “NCUI Haat”, a first-of-its-kind e-commerce platform for cooperative products. Along with commerce, it has social component, as it will facilitate capacity building support in registration, branding and promotion of products at free of cost;
2.    Cooperative Extension and Advisory Services Portal focusing on “Learning Management System”, provide the information and services required and demanded by cooperative members, leaders and managers, and the general public;
3.    A film on the initiatives of the Ministry of Cooperation, and the role of NCUI.
"We are delighted to host the 17th Indian Cooperative Congress, a significant event that recognizes the vital role of cooperatives in our society," said Shri. Dileep Sanghani, President, NCUI. "This Congress will serve as a platform to celebrate the achievements of cooperatives, discuss pertinent challenges, and collectively work towards a sustainable and inclusive future."