Colombo, Sri Lanka: The Executive Committee Meeting of the Network for the Development of Agricultural Cooperatives in Asia and the Pacific (NEDAC) was held on 24 November 2025, bringing together senior representatives from leading cooperative institutions across the region. The session underscored the growing importance of cross-border cooperation in strengthening sustainable agriculture and rural development.
The meeting was chaired by Pankaj Kumar Bansal, IAS, Chairman of NEDAC, who highlighted the need for agricultural cooperatives to collaborate more closely amid rising climate and developmental challenges. India was represented by Dr. Sudhir Mahajan, IAS (Retd.), Chief Executive of the National Cooperative Union of India (NCUI), Shri Anand Mohan, IRTS, Joint Managing Director, NAFED etc. among others who contributed to key deliberations on regional cooperation and sustainable models for rural transformation.
Members reviewed ongoing programmes, discussed strategic priorities and exchanged successful cooperative models and policy insights. The ExCom served as an important platform for strengthening institutional partnerships and advancing NEDAC’s long-term vision for agricultural growth in the Asia-Pacific region.
International Year of Cooperatives (IYC) 2025
This year’s meeting coincided with the United Nations International Year of Cooperatives (IYC) 2025, adding global significance to the discussions. In collaboration with the International Cooperative Alliance–Asia and Pacific (ICA-AP), NEDAC hosted knowledge-exchange sessions focused on food security, rural prosperity and inclusive economic development.
NEDAC and ICA-AP Seminar
As part of IYC 2025, NEDAC and ICA-AP also organized a seminar on “Furthering Climate Resilient, Smart and Sustainable Agriculture through Cooperatives in Asia and the Pacific.” Experts and practitioners discussed climate-smart technologies, resilience models and cooperative-led solutions for farmers.
Cooperative Innovations of Asia-Pacific
During the event, NEDAC unveiled “Cooperative Innovations of Asia-Pacific” — a first-of-its-kind compilation of inspiring cooperative stories and best practices from across the region.
Bilateral interactions were also held between NEDAC Chairman Pankaj Bansal and Sri Lankan leadership, including Dr. Shantha Jayaratne, Senior Advisor to the Ministry of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development, exploring new opportunities for cooperation between India and Sri Lanka.
The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks and networking interactions with ICA leadership and member delegates, paving the way for future collaborations and collective efforts to strengthen the cooperative movement in the Asia-Pacific.
