Kuala lumpur: The International Cooperative Conference (ICC) 2025 today set the stage for charting the future of the cooperative movement, with youth identified as the central force for transformation.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the conference was organized by the Co-operative Institute of Malaysia (IKMa) under the Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives (KUSKOP). It brought together policymakers, cooperative leaders, academicians, and youth representatives from ASEAN and beyond under the theme 'Youth for Cooperative Future.'
IKMa director-general Datuk Mohd Ali Mansor emphasized that the long-term sustainability of the cooperative sector relies heavily on strategic youth participation. He stated that cooperatives empowering young people with leadership opportunities are better positioned to innovate, adapt to changing realities, and confront global challenges such as climate change and digital transformation.
Mohd Ali highlighted the importance of youth participation in cooperatives, noting that by 2024, a total of 207 youth cooperatives involving nearly 88,000 members recorded more than a fourfold increase in revenue, rising from US$3.5 million to US$14.3 million over five years. Although youth cooperatives still contribute only a small share to the sector's total revenue of US$16.3 billion, the upward trend shows that youth involvement is no longer optional but a strategic necessity.
IKMa's focus is centered on three key areas: youth empowerment and social innovation, entrepreneurship and economic competitiveness, and knowledge exchange and technology adoption. Programs such as Graduate to Cooperative (G2K) and Co-operative Digitalisation Empowerment (CODE) are designed to equip young people with the knowledge and tools they need to thrive.
Deputy Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Datuk Willie Anak Mongin, who officiated the event, expressed concern about the cooperative movement's potential succession gap without the creativity and leadership of young people. He noted that fewer than 100,000 young Malaysians are currently active in cooperatives and emphasized that the conference theme is not just a slogan but a call to action.
He reaffirmed the government's commitment to strengthening youth participation through policies such as the National Entrepreneurship Policy 2030 and initiatives including Prot©g©, Tunas Usahawan Belia Bumiputera (TUBE), and Youth Co:Lab. The conference also witnessed the signing of several memoranda of understanding (MoUs) between Malaysian cooperatives and partners from Thailand and Japan to boost technology adoption, strengthen human capital, and enhance regional cooperation.