Report of the 3rd ICA NACF Regional seminar on agriculture cooperative business development with special refernece to Korean Experience. Seoul, (6- 15 May 1996)

The 3rd ICA-NACF Regional Seminar on Agricultural Cooperative Business Development with Special Reference to Korean Experience was organised by the International Cooperative Alliance Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (ICA ROAP) in collaboration with the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation of Korea (NACF). The seminar was held at the Central Training Institute of NACF in Seoul from 6th to 15th May 1996. 10 participants from seven countries, i.e. China, India, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Philippines and Vietnam attended the seminar.

The broad objectives of the seminar were:

(a) To understand the structure and business activities of agricul tural cooperatives in Korea; (b) To learn modern computer system and advanced manage

ment in agricultural cooperative business development;

(c) To discuss applicability of the Korean experience on business

development to agricultural cooperatives of the participating

countries; and

(d) To formulate action proposals for the organisations/move

ments of the participants, keeping in view the experience

gained.

The seminar was inaugurated by Dr. Kyo-Eun Kim, Dean, Agricultural Cooperative Junior College of NACF. In his inaugural address, he said that the main objective of agricultural cooperatives is to improve the social and economic status of farmers by exercising the spirit of cooperation among farmers. Therefore, the strengthening of cooperatives in every country, especially in developing countries, has been considered as one of the most important factors for agricultural and rural development. He hoped that the discussions and findings in the seminar would be very useful for the participants to improve the agricultural cooperative business in their countries. Mr. Shil Kwan Lee, General Manager, International Cooperation Office of NACP, welcomed the participana Mr. Guo Yong Kang, Agricultural Cooperative Development Advor, ICA ROAP, gave a brief account of the background and methodology of the seminar.