ICA Director General's Visit to NACF Date : 2024-08-26 Views : 2590
□ On the 26th of August, Kang Ho-dong, Chairman of the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation (NACF), met with Jeroen Douglas, Director General of the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA), and Balasubramanian Iyer, Regional General of ICA-AP (Asia-Pacific Region), at the NACF headquarters in Jung-gu, Seoul. They discussed the development and mutual cooperation between the organizations.
□ During the meeting, Director General Jeroen Douglas stated, “Korea’s NACF has evolved from a member institution of a least developed country into the world’s fourth-largest cooperative and the top cooperative in the agricultural sector. It stands as a successful cooperative model.” He expressed deep gratitude for the significant contribution Korea’s NACF has made to the advancement of cooperatives worldwide.
□ In response, Chairman Kang Ho-dong said, “As a leading global cooperative, NACF will continue to share its successful experiences and business models, driving the sustainable development of cooperatives.”
□ Additionally, in anticipation of the "UN International Year of Cooperatives" in 2025, he added, “We plan to hold various events under the ICAO (International Cooperative Agricultural Organization) to actively promote the social and economic contributions of cooperatives.”
□ Additionally, Director General Jeroen Douglas and Regional General Balasubramanian Iyer had the opportunity to learn from Korea’s advanced cooperative model by visiting the Yangjae Hanaro Mart, where they studied NACF’s advanced distribution system.
□ They also visited a local cooperative in Gimpo, where they observed local food markets, gaining valuable insights into how NACF directly contributes to the well-being of farmers. This provided them with an important opportunity to see firsthand the practical impact of NACF’s initiatives on local agriculture.