Colombo, Sri Lanka: Dr. Chandrapal Singh Yadav, the incumbent President of the International Cooperative Alliance – Asia and Pacific (ICA-AP), has been unanimously re-elected for another term during the ICA-AP Regional Assembly and Board election held today in Colombo. Member organisations from across the Asia-Pacific region extended their support, ensuring continuity in leadership at one of the world’s most influential cooperative bodies. Over 800 delegates from 32 countries across the Asia-Pacific region participated in the assembly. Further, Adili Wubuli (China) and Datuk Seri Dr. Abdul Fattah Abdullah (Malaysia) were also elected as the two Vice-Presidents of ICA-AP.
Prominent Global Cooperative Leader
Dr. Yadav is a prominent figure in the global cooperative movement, having served earlier as President of the National Cooperative Union of India (NCUI). He currently serves as Vice-Chairman of KRIBHCO and has been associated with several national and international cooperative institutions. A former Member of Parliament, he represented Jhansi in the 14th Lok Sabha (2004–2009) and later served in the Rajya Sabha from 2014 to 2020. He has also chaired the Uttar Pradesh Cooperative Marketing Federation (PCF) for more than two terms and continues to hold key positions across multiple cooperative organisations.
His re-election comes at a time when India’s Ministry of Cooperation is driving extensive reforms to strengthen the cooperative model nationwide. The development is being seen as a moment of pride for India, reflecting the country’s expanding leadership in the global cooperative landscape and its growing influence in regional cooperative policymaking. Dr. Yadav was earlier elected President in ICA-AP board election held in Seoul in Nov, 2021.
International Cooperative Alliance Asia and Pacific (ICA-AP)
Founded in 1960 and headquartered in New Delhi, the International Cooperative Alliance Asia and Pacific (ICA-AP) is one of the four regional offices of the global ICA. Today, ICA-AP represents 119 member organisations across 29 countries (as of August 2025), promoting cooperative identity, advocacy, capacity building and collaborative programmes across varied economic sectors. Its mandate emphasizes sustainable development, social inclusion and economic empowerment through cooperatives.
ICA-AP Regional Assembly
The ICA-AP Regional Assembly serves as the organisation’s highest governing body, bringing together member institutions to shape policy directions, review progress and encourage regional partnerships. As part of its governance structure, the Assembly elects an eleven-member Regional Board, consisting of a President, two Vice-Chairpersons and eight Board Members, each serving a four-year term.
Expectations from Renewed Mandate
Dr. Yadav’s renewed mandate is expected to further strengthen regional cooperation, support capacity-building initiatives and advance the cooperative movement’s role in addressing emerging challenges such as climate resilience, food security and rural development. His leadership is also anticipated to deepen India’s engagement with cooperative organisations across Asia and the Pacific.
The election concluded with broad consensus among member organisations, setting the stage for continued collaboration and strategic progress in the cooperative sector across the region.
