NEDAC Workshop on “Cooperatives and Global Supply Chain Logistics”

March 11, 2024April 20, 2024 nedacadmin 0 Comments committee, cooperatives, livestock, meeting, nedac, zoom

Diving deeper into Agricultural Cooperatives and Global Supply Chain and Logistics, NEDAC organized a workshop at the retreat destination Shimla, India!

09-10/04/2024

Shimla – The NEDAC Workshop on Cooperatives and Global Supply Chain Logistics was organized from April 9th to 10th, 2024, in Shimla, India. The workshop was jointly organized by the Network for the Development of Agricultural Cooperatives in Asia and the Pacific (NEDAC), the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC), India, and the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Thailand.

The aim of the workshop is to explore the impact of cooperatives on global supply chains by learning from industry leaders and experts, and discovering cooperative success stories in logistics, and to discuss strategies for efficient logistics management.

A total of 100 participants from NEDAC member countries and local cooperative organizations from Himachal Pradesh and neighboring states gathered to explore economic development within global agricultural supply chains, guided by esteemed international experts. Mr. Pankaj Kumar Bansal, Honorable Chairman, NEDAC and Managing Director, NCDC, extended a warm welcome to all delegates. The workshop was inaugurated virtually by Shri Ashish Bhutani, Secretary of the Ministry of Cooperation, Government of India. He highlighted the significance of cooperatives in today’s interconnected global economy. Mr. C. Paulrasu, Secretary of Cooperation for the Himachal Pradesh Cooperative Department, attended the event in person. Dr. Krishna R. Salin, Honorary Director of NEDAC, Bangkok and Chair of the Aquaculture Program, AIT, Thailand, served as the moderator.

Distinguished resource persons from various fields presented their findings during the workshop. Dr. C. Pitchai, Professor at the Department of Cooperation, Gandhigram Rural Institute in Tamil Nadu, India, delivered insights on innovative approaches to enhancing cooperative engagement in supply chains and logistics. Dr. Shrikant Janbandhu, Executive Director of CONCOR, shared case studies on railway logistics in India. Mrs. Jaruwan Jan-in, representing the Cooperative Promotion Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Thailand, discussed e-commerce and the roles of cooperatives in supply chain logistics across Thailand and selected ASEAN countries. Dr. Takuji W. Tsusaka, Chair of the Development and Sustainability Program at AIT, shed light on the pivotal roles of agricultural cooperatives in strengthening supply chains, drawing examples from Asia and Africa. Dr. Nguyen Thi Kim Quyen, a Lecturer from the Department of Fisheries Management and Economics at Can Tho University, Vietnam, provided insights into the current status of Vietnamese Agricultural Cooperatives and their logistical integration into global supply chains. The last technical session was taken by Mr. Sanjay Kumar Verma, Director of the National Cooperative Union of India (NCUI), who shared his experiences regarding the possibilities and challenges associated with cooperative engagement in markets and logistics.

The technical session concluded with a panel discussion, wherein all participants were engaged in an intellectually stimulating interaction and exchange of ideas.

On the second day, NEDAC delegates visited to Himachal Pradesh State Co-operative Milk Producer’s Federation Limited. The trip provided them with invaluable direct experiences, allowing them to experience the practical application of cooperative-led supply chain logistics and best practices in action.