CALL FOR ASEAN TO RECOGNISE ACO AS OFFICIAL COOPERATIVE VOICE ON REGIONAL, GLOBAL STAGES

KUALA LUMPUR, May 15 (Bernama) -- ASEAN member states have been called upon to unite in officially recognising the ASEAN Co-operative Organisation (ACO) as the primary representative body for cooperatives in the region, to strengthen their influence both regionally and globally.

ACO president Datuk Seri Dr Abdul Fattah Abdullah made the call through four key resolutions presented during the ASEAN Cooperative Dialogue 2025 (ACD2025).

The two-day event, held from May 13 in Petaling Jaya, featured ACO's Annual General Meeting, Sectoral Assembly, the ASEAN Cooperative Forum, and the ASEAN Cooperative High-Level Discussion.

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Abdul Fattah emphasised that formal recognition of ACO would elevate the cooperative sector to a status on par with other economic sectors within ASEAN’s governance structure.

“Such recognition would allow ACO to participate directly in policy formulation, present strategic proposals, and advocate effectively for cooperative agendas across regional platforms.

“With over 300,000 cooperatives and 65.7 million members across ASEAN, ACO plays a unifying role, giving cooperatives in the region a consolidated voice on the global stage,” he said in a statement today.

Abdul Fattah, who is also president of the Malaysian cooperative movement, Angkatan Koperasi Kebangsaan Malaysia Berhad (Angkasa), said that ACD2025 marked a significant step in linking cooperative movements with ASEAN policymakers, ensuring that cooperative interests are included in regional development strategies.

He affirmed that the efforts initiated during ACD2025 would not end with the dialogue, as ACO will continue collaborating with governments and regional partners to embed cooperatives more deeply in national and ASEAN economic policies.

The four resolutions were the product of joint discussions among ASEAN cooperative ministries, registrars, apex bodies, and Malaysia’s premier cooperatives.

“These resolutions have been formally presented to Deputy Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives, Datuk Seri R. Ramanan, during the ACD2025 Gala Dinner and Closing Ceremony last night. 

“They are expected to be tabled as a key agenda item at the upcoming 46th ASEAN Summit, scheduled for May 26-27,” he said.

The resolutions can be accessed via the following link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xFU9-5A7VtwQa7OfxRA2NfX9e_F9sXMU/view?usp=sharing.

ACD2025, themed Cooperatives Build a Better World, highlighted the crucial role cooperatives play not only in economic development but also in fostering inclusive and sustainable socio-economic progress, in line with Malaysia’s chairmanship theme for ASEAN 2025 and the United Nations-declared International Year of Cooperatives (IYC) 2025.

The event brought together over 250 participants from 12 countries, including the United States, Australia, Azerbaijan, China, and ASEAN member states.

-- BERNAMA