A delegation from the Ministry, headed by His Excellency Mr. Maan Al-Anqari, Director General of the General Directorate of Cooperative Societies, participated in the General Assembly meetings of the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA), held in New Delhi during the period of November 20-30, 2024. Established in 1895, the ICA is the world's largest international cooperative organization, with members in over 100 countries, including the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which joined as an associate member in December 2023.
A number of agenda items were discussed, with emphasis placed on the need for cooperation and concerted efforts among member states to achieve the community's goals of sustainable development and self-sufficiency in all aspects.
His Excellency Al-Anqari also headed the ministry's delegation participating in the 2024 Global Cooperative Conference of the International Cooperative Alliance, held in New Delhi from November 25 to 30, 2024.
This biennial conference is held as part of the International Co-operative Alliance's efforts to promote co-operative development and highlight its economic and social significance on a global scale. The conference is organized jointly by the Alliance's regional organizations for Asia and the Pacific, the Americas, Europe, and Africa.
The conference, which adopted the theme of the International Year of Cooperatives, addressed four key topics: (enabling policy and entrepreneurial ecosystems, reaffirming the cooperative identity, fostering purposeful leadership to create prosperity for all, and shaping a just, equitable, and resilient future). It included a number of workshops and training sessions exploring innovative solutions, technologies and best practices for the cooperative movement.
These contributions represent a significant step forward in the Ministry of Social Solidarity's efforts to develop and enhance the cooperative sector, leveraging the expertise of member states within the International Cooperative Alliance to foster the growth of the cooperative sector and increase its economic and social contributions.