The International Co-operative Agricultural Organisation (ICAO) is the democratic organisation representing agricultural co-operatives and farmers world-wide. The ICAO, founded in 1951, is a sectoral organisation of the ICA.    

 New Member : Cooperative Central Bank Ltd
On 15 May, the Cooperative Central Bank Ltd (CCB) of Cyprus became a member of the ICAO. The CCB is the banker of the all registered cooperative societies and the central banker of cooperative credit institutions in Cyprus. It is a tertiary levelcooperative society and its shareholders-members are exclusively cooperatives from all over Cyprus. As the end of 2007 the shareholders-members of the Bank amounted to 337 cooperative societies. See : www.coopbank.com.cy


 Death of ICA President Ivano Barberini
It is with great sadness that the ICA announces the death of its President, Ivano Barberini. Mr. Barberini died peacefully after a long illness on 5 May 2009 after succumbing to a coma. Mr. Barberini was the pillar of the global co-operative movement, committed to its values and principles, working to promote the movement until the very end.


 Theme of International Day of Co-operatives 2009: "Driving global recovery through co-operatives."
This year's International Day theme focuses on recovery rather than crisis. It aims to highlight the role that co-operatives have in not only promoting economic growth, but also promoting ethical values - values which have been severely challenged during the financial and food crisis. it underlines that co-operatives can effectively contribute to global economic recovery and that they will do so in respect of the co-operative values and principles which guide their operations. The Day will be celebrated around the world on 4 July 2009.

● The proposal of restructuring and amendments to the ICA Rules and Standing Orders were passed in the ICA special General Assembly at Rome, Italy. They will affect the member status of the ICAO member organaisations in the ICA, especially the membership of ICA and the subscription fees. Please find the linked documents for details.

● Member Profile Update. Please contact the ICAO secretariat office and update your organisational information.

 ICAO & NCC Conference
  ICAO co-organized the Conference in conjunction with National Cooperative Council of Poland on the Challenges and Opportunities of Agricultural Cooperatives in Transition Economies on Mar. 24~25, 2009. Speakers from both East and Central European countries and Asian countries who had been through planned economies shared their experiences and deliberated their opportunities in the market economies.
 ICAO General Meeting
ICAO held the 2008 General Meeting at Melia Hotel, Hanoi, Vietnam on Dec. 2nd 2008.
 2007 ICAO General Meeting & International Seminar
  ICAO co-organized the Conference in conjunction with ICA Asia Pacific which has a full spectrum of family farming members from developed countries to developing countries on Dec.2,2008 at Hanoi,Vietnam.The Conference was held on“Protection of Small Family Farmers through Co-operatives”with the theme: Quality Production ? Quality Food and Quality Trade in Liberalized Trade Regime.
 ICA EXPO
Oct. 23~25, FIL, Lisbon, Portugal
  ICAO participated in the first ICA EXPO opening a promotional booth. ICAO presented activities and member organisation and promote ICAO to recruit the new members. Korean National Agricultural Cooperative Federation and Turkish OR-KOOP joined the promotion and presented their activities during the EXPO

2009 ICAO General Meeting and
    International Seminar
    November 18, Geneva Switzerland

ICA General Assembly
    November 16~20, Geneva Switzerland