Amit Shah to address national symposium on cooperative exports

DIMAPUR — A one-day ‘National Symposium on Cooperative Exports’ is being organised by the National Cooperative for Exports Limited (NCEL) in New Delhi on October 23, to brainstorm a range of issues including channelising cooperatives for linkages to export markets, potential of Indian agri-exports and opportunities for cooperatives among others.

Union Minister of Home and Cooperation, Amit Shah, will grace the symposium and address the gathering along with Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal.

Amit Shah will also launch the logo, website and brochure of NCEL on the occasion. He will distribute the membership certificates to NCEL members, and also provide the charter to NCEL, according to a statement here from the Union Cooperation Ministry.

The NCEL came into existence after Amit Shah put an emphasis for the need to establish a national-level multi-state cooperative society to function as an umbrella organisation for exports by the cooperative sector. Under the able guidance of Cooperation Minister, the Ministry of Cooperation has taken 54 initiatives in the last 27 months to strengthen cooperative movement in the country. Setting up a national-level Cooperative to promote export through cooperatives is one among 54 initiatives which is an important step towards realising Government’s vision of “Sahakar Se Samriddhi.”  

NCEL is the newly established umbrella organisation for cooperative sector exports registered under Multi-State Co-operative Societies Act, 2002 act on January 25, 2023.

It covers agriculture and allied activities as well as handloom and handicrafts items by enrolling a large number of co-operatives under its fold with a target to double its revenue by 2025 from the current level of about INR 2,160 crore.

 All cooperative societies from the level of primary to apex, who are interested in exports are eligible to become member of the NCEL which has an authorised share capital of INR 2,000 crore. It aims to focus on exporting the surpluses available in the Indian cooperative sector by accessing wider markets beyond the geographical contours of the country, said the statement.

The symposium will commence with a presentation by officials of the Cooperation Ministry on the various initiatives undertaken to strengthen the cooperative sector.

The second half of the symposium will comprise technical sessions on a host of topics including channelising cooperatives for linkages to export markets, potential of Indian agri exports and opportunities for cooperatives, making India the dairy to the world, and world’s largest grain storage plan in the cooperative sector, the statement added.

Four leading co-operatives, viz. Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF – Amul), Indian Farmers’ Fertiliser Cooperative (IFFCO), Krishak Bharti Cooperative (KRIBHCO), National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) and National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC), a statutory corporation of the government of India, have jointly promoted NCEL.

NCEL will also offer consultancy services on export-related matters, act as a knowledge repository on cooperative exports, and fetch better prices for cooperative products/services for cooperative produce, as per the statement.

The National Symposium on Cooperative Export will be attended by more than 1000 participants including cooperative members of NCEL, representatives of different cooperative sectors including National Cooperative Federations, representatives of embassies of various countries and Central & State Government Officials. Large number of cooperative members and stakeholders will also join through online mode.   

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