International Co-operative Alliance (ICA)
International Co-operative Alliance is the world confederation of co-operatives
which has been in existence since 1895 and its headquarters is presently located in Geneva under the Swiss Laws.
ICA has 225 member organizations world wide from 87 countries.
The strategic objectives of ICA are:
- Providing Effective Membership Services for Enhancing Capabilities of the Co-operatives
World across;
- Promote the use of Co-operatives as Value Based Enterprises and as the Preferred
Tool of Development Programs and ;
- Reinforcing the Institutional Capability of ICA.
ICA’s principal role is to provide networking forum for the exchange of ideas, experiences,
concerns and trade among co-operatives. ICA over the years has been lobbying with
the governments for the creation of a favorable policy environment for the development
of cooperatives and advising necessary improvements in the cooperative legislation
for better regulation of the cooperatives. ICA is also seen as the organization
capable of catalyzing & mobilizing thought churning process on relevant contextual
issues affecting co-operatives at global and national levels.
The International Co-operative alliance - Asia & Pacific is one of the operating
regional offices of the ICA. It serves 60 national level member organizations and
one international organization in 22 countries.
These national level co-operative members organizations of ICA in turn serve all
types of co-operatives operating in all sectors of national economies, including
those engaged in agricultural production and marketing, wholesale and retail, small
and medium scale industries, financial services, insurance, housing, transport,
health and other services. Over 530 million individual members benefit from the
services of these co-operatives.
The Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific was opened in 1960 and is presently
located at 9, Aradhana Enclave, Sector 13, R.K.Puram, Ring Road, New Delhi 110066,
India.
ICA also has a sub-office in Singapore since 1999 to promote ICA’s business interests.