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Mr Deepak P Banskota, Founder Chairman of Coop Bank Nepal inaugurates the joint seminar





Co-op Movement in Nepal





Yutaka Seki giving Welcome remarks





Hiroshi Ogawa - NoH Dan Roh President





Noriaki Urai Coop Kobe Union President





Kenichi Tamori Vice President of Zenrokin higlihting Labour Banks in Japan

“Re-Awaken the Cooperative Movement – Strengthen the Producers and Consumers in Real Economy was the theme of the seminar”.

Mr Deepak P Banskota, founder Chairman of the Cooperative Development Bank and National Cooperative Federation [NCF] in Nepal, graced the inauguration of the seminar. Mr Banskota, former State Minister for Home Affairs, said that the Ministry is making concerted efforts in Nepal to implement the systems and activities of Japan Agriculture Cooperative Bank that strengthen the rural farming community.

Yutaka Seki, UNI Apro Finance President, said that UNI LCJ Finance affiliates decided to commemorate the International Year of Cooperative movement by way of sharing the Japanese experiences of various cooperative initiatives that contributed to social progress of the marginalized and rural population. Positive experiences of cooperatives in Japan could be beneficial for Nepal as a developing country with a vast rural and agricultural economy.

"Labor and management jointly pursue enhancing consultations relating to agricultural management and support corporation between small and large-scale farmers in Japan," said Hiroshi Ogawa, President of Noh-Dan-Roh (Agriculture Cooperative Bank in Japan) in his presentation on the history of cooperative movement. Mr Ogawa also shared with the Nepali Trade union leaders how joint partnerships stimulated the real economy through increasing productivity in farming and supplementing income of farmers for sustainable growth in Japan.

Norikai Urai President of Co-op Kobe Workers’ Union explained how the Retail Sales outlets of Co-op Kobe work to bridge the needs between producers and consumer for their mutual benefits. Kenichi Tamori Vice President of Federation of Labour Bank Workers’ Union highlighted how Labour banks empowered workers through easy access to finance when workers are need of finance based on cooperative principles. Kentaro Shigetomi President of Federation of Labour Insurance Union and Vice President Naoki Yamashita explained about Labour Insurance schemes operation in Japan.

"Through cooperatives, trade union can offer a variety of services to their members similar to what has been successfully implemented in Japan," said Jayasri Priyalal, UNI Apro Director for Finance Sector Activities in concluding the seminar; he also emphasised that trade union leaders need to introduce innovative services to increase trade union membership in Nepal.

UNI Nepal Liaison Council unanimously endorsed the UNI LCJ's statement supporting the revitalisation of cooperative movement to be tabled at the UNI World Executive Board meeting.

Shankar Lamichhane, General Secretary of UNI Nepal Liaison Council, thanked the Japanese colleagues for coming to Nepal to share experiences to support the social progress in Nepal.