Schedule (Arabic)

Day 0 – April 27, 2024

Arrival of the Delegates

ICA-AP Regional Board meeting (by invitation only)

Day 1 – April 28, 2024

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9:00AM - 10:00AM

Registration

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9:30AM - 9:50AM

Gathering of Ministers and key delegates in VIP room

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10:00am – 10:50am

Inaugration of the Conference

- Video on Jordanian Cooperative Movement

– Introduction of Ministers and key delegates

-Cultural Performance

-Introduction of Ministers and key delegates

-Welcome Address – Mr. Abdelfattah M.Q. Al-Shalabi, Director General, Jordan Cooperative Corporation (JCC)

-Inaugural Address –Dr. Chandrapal Singh Yadav, President, International Cooperative Alliance – Asia and Pacific (ICA-AP)

Dr. Ariel Guarco, President, International Cooperative Alliance (ICA)

-Opening Address –H.E. Khaled Mousa Shehadeh Alhuneafat, Minister of Agriculture, Jordan

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10:50AM - 11:10AM

Group Photo followed by Tea/Coffee Break

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11:10AM - 11:30AM

Keynote Address 

Partnerships between Government and Cooperatives for Cooperative Resilience, Sustainable Development, and Inclusive Growth

Mr. Abdelfattah M.Q. Al-Shalabi, Director General, JCC

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11:30AM - 12:00PM

Introduction of the Conference
Mr. Balasubramanian Iyer, Regional Director, ICA-AP

- Statutory Proceedings - Agenda

–Announcement of Conference Chair H.E. Khaled Mousa Shehadeh Alhuneafat, Minister of Agriculture, Jordan

– Adoption of Rules and Procedures

– Selection of Drafting Committee

Session 1 – State of Partnerships in Asia-Pacific and MENA

Chair – Dr. Nizar Haddad, Director General, National Agricultural Research Center (NARC), Jordan

Cooperatives play a vital role in fostering sustainable development, economic resilience, and inclusive growth in many countries in the Asia Pacific and MENA region.

These member-owned, member-operated organizations operate in variou sectors, including agriculture, finance, housing, and more. To harness their full potential, partnerships between government entities and cooperatives are important. What is the state of partnership between governments and cooperatives? What are the drivers to sustain the partnership? How do we improve government – cooperatives’ partnership?

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12:00PM - 1:00PM

15 mins presentation + 15 mins open floor

Study on Assessment of Partnerships Between the Government and Cooperatives

Dr. Yashvantha Dongre, Chairperson, ICA-AP Committee on Cooperative Research (Online) supported by Dr. Samir Barhoumeh, Research Consultant, ICA-AP

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1:00PM - 2:00PM

Lunch Break

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2:00PM - 3:30PM

Approx. 12 – 15 min. 

Statement by Government representatives

H.E. Mr. Manoa Kamikamica, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade, Cooperatives, SMEs and Communications, Fiji

H.E. Mr. Win Daki Bakri, Minister for Commerce & Industry, Papua New Guinea

H.E. U.Sec. Joseph “Joy” Ballota Encabo, Chairman, Cooperative Development Authority, the Philippines

H.E. Mr. Balaram Adhikari, Minister of Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation, Nepal

H.E. Dr. Nasri Khalil Abu Jaish, Minister of Labour, Palestine

H.E. Dr. Abass Al-haj Hassan, Minister of Agriculture, Lebanon

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3:30PM - 4:00PM

Tea/Coffee Break

Session 2 – Accelerating the Cooperative Identity

Chair – Mr. Michael Pilbrow, Director and Chairman, Strategic Development Group, Australia

The Statement of Cooperative Identity unites cooperatives to work for the common good. The values and principles give people control of their own lives, their future, and form base that sets cooperatives apart from other types of enterprises. How can we ensure the cooperative business model continues to be relevant in addressing global challenges and how do we accelerate the cooperative identity?

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4:00PM - 4:45PM

10 mins presentation each + 15 mins open floor

How can we ensure the cooperative business model continues to be relevant in addressing challenges?

Mr. Hani Farhan Alodainat, Director of the Cooperative Training Center, JCC

Findings from the ICA Cooperative Identity Survey

Mr. P. Santosh Kumar, Director of Legislation, ICA

How do we accelerate the cooperative identity?

Mr. Kenki Maeda, General Manager, Japan Cooperative Alliance

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4:45PM - 5:30PM

Statement by Government representatives

H.E. Eng. Sultan bin Jorais AlJorais, Deputy Minister for Social Security and Empowerment, Saudi Arabia

H.E. Mr. V. N. Vasavan, Minister for Ports & Cooperation, Government of Kerala, India

Hon. Ms. Neven Alqabbaj, Minister of Social Solidarity, Egypt

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7:00PM - 9:00PM

Gala Dinner

Day 2 – April 29, 2024

Session 3 – Adapting to Changing Environment and Building Resiliency

Chair – Dr. Manoj Nardeosingh, Secretary General, African-Asian Rural Development Organization

The importance of cooperatives has been recognized across countries, reflected in National Constitution, strategy documents to enhance contribution to GDP, and through creation of new Ministries. How do cooperatives respond to the rapidly changing environment? What is the support needed from governments to create an enabling environment and develop resiliency within cooperatives?

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10:00AM – 11:30AM

Inclusive transformation in the Near East and North Africa

Mr. Abdul Hakim Elwaer, Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative, FAO Near East and North Africa

Agricultural Innovation and Entrepreneurship: NARC as a Case Study

Dr. Nizar Haddad, Director General, NARC, Jordan

Resilience of cooperatives recognized in the National Constitution

Ms. Om Devi Malla, Chairperson, National Cooperative Federation of Nepal

Statement by Government representatives

H.E. Dr. Hamed Veyskarami, Deputy Minister of Cooperative Affairs, Iran

Mr. Bilal Omer, Chairman, Cooperative Work Authority, Ministry of Labour, Palestine

Ms. Aicha Errifaai, General Director of the Office of Cooperation Development, Morocco

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11:30AM - 12:00AM

Tea Break

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12:00AM - 1:00PM

Statement by Government representatives

H.E. Yang Berhormat Datuk Ewon Benedick, Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives, Malaysia

H.E. Rajanna Kyathasandra Nanjappa, Minister for Cooperation, Government of Karnataka, India

H.E. Eng. Mohammed Hassan Qatana, Minister of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform, Syria

H.E. Mr. Abass Jabur Obada Al-Ali Al-Maliki, Minister of Agriculture, Iraq

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1:00PM - 2:00PM

Lunch Break

Session 4 – Advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 1, 5, 8, 13)

Chair – Mr. Jeroen Douglas, Director General, ICA

Cooperatives across the Asia-Pacific and MENA region are actively involved in the implementation of the SDGs and their role has focused on SDG1 (no poverty), SDG5 (gender equality), SDG8 (decent work and economic growth), and SDG13 (climate action). The efforts of cooperatives have been recognized and are reflected in national SDG plans and in the Voluntary National Reviews (VNR) of many countries. How do governments support the role of cooperatives in the implementation of the SDGs and give more visibility and recognition to their efforts?

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2:00PM - 3:00PM

ICA-AP Study on Cooperatives and VNRs

Mr. Balasubramanian Iyer, Regional Director, ICA-AP

Promoting sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all.

Ms. Simel Esim, Head – Cooperative Unit, International Labor Organization

Strengthening policies and legislation that promote gender equality.

Ms. Chitose Arai, Chairperson, ICA-AP Committee on Women

Creating productive employment and decent work for youth.

Ms. Dulce Busmante, Chairperson, ICA-AP Committee on Youth Cooperation

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3:00PM - 4:00PM

Statement by Government Representatives

Mr. Pankaj Kumar Bansal, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Cooperation, India

Mr. Wisit Srisuwan, Director-General of the Cooperative Promotion Department, Thailand

Mr. Hiroshi Ono, Director, Office of Consumer Cooperatve Societies, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan

Mr. Ahmed Shareef, Head of Department, Supervision and Control of Cooperatives, Ministry of Economy, United Arab Emirates

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4:00PM - 4:30PM

Tea/Coffee Break

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4:00PM - 5:30PM

Concluding Session

Report of the Drafting Committee, Joint Declaration and Recommendations

Closing Speech
H.E. Khaled Mousa Shehadeh Alhuneafat, Minister of Agriculture, Jordan
Mr. Abdelfattah M. Alshalabi, Director General, JCC

Vote of thanks
Mr. Balasubramanian Iyer, Regional Director, ICA-AP

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7:00PM - 9:00PM

Farewell Dinner

Day 3 – April 30, 2024

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8:00 am - 8:00 pm

Field Visit
A visit to the Rose City of Petra (one of the wonders of the world) for heads of delegations and dignitaries, and a visit to one of the cooperatives in the region.

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21:00 onwards

Departure (Late Evening Onwards)

Note: This draft of the program is subject to modification, addition, or deletion according to topics or time, and the final program will be sent prior to the conference.