October 13, 2019
IICTF was attended by over 150 cooperative organisations and representatives from 35 countries
Event saw over 4,000 trade enquiries and over 35,000 attendees, including foreign dignitaries
75 MoUs and agreements were signed over the course of the three-day cooperatives trade event
Expansion of cooperative ecosystem enable wider marketing of indigenous and ethnic products
The first ever India International Cooperatives Trade Fair 2019, held at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi over October 11-13, was attended by over 150 cooperative organisations and representatives from around 35 countries,
Inaugurated by the Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Shri Narendra Singh Tomar, the event was intended to promote trade amongst cooperatives in India and the export of key agriculture commodities and products. Currently, agricultural cooperatives produce 50 per cent of the world’s agriculture output, showcasing the potential for global trade in the sector.
Union Minister for Commerce and Industries, Shri Piyush Goyal, expressed his confidence in the cooperative sector and its contribution to enhanced rural and farm prosperity. The IICTF saw over 4,000 trade enquiries and was attended by over 35,000 individuals, including high profile Governors, Chief Ministers, and other foreign dignitaries. Acknowledging the need for an international framework for expansion, Shri Goyal provided ideas on how it would enable the marketing of indigenous and ethnic products on e-commerce platforms.
Over the three-day event, 75 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed between various cooperatives. Aside from agriculture, the fair also featured thematic sessions on the role of cooperatives in other sectors such as trade, finance, IT, social etc. Additionally, the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) launched its new Yuva Sahakar-Cooperative Enterprise Support and Innovation Scheme 2019 at the fair, in line with existing Government programmes to encourage innovative thinking amongst young entrepreneurs.
The event also saw the launch of ‘Simplydesi’, an initiative by Sahakar Bharati that raises awareness about the benefits of cooperatives, and facilitates valuable marketing and branding opportunities for the cooperative movement. On the occasion, Minister, Shri Tomar, praised the event for supporting the primary producers of a wide range of products and services. According to him, the IICTF will not only connect Indian products to a wider market, nationally and internationally, but will also create opportunities for participating countries to showcase their products in the Indian market.