The International Co-operative Alliance (ICA) president Ms. Monique Leroux paid a two-day visit to Japan on May 15-16, 2016 to take part in the third ICA collaboration seminar organized by the Japan Joint Committee of Co-operatives (JJC) in Tokyo.

Among the topics discussed in the seminar were;

1. to outreach and appeal the social role of cooperatives worldwide.
2. to create an environment for young people to actively participate in co-operative and emphasized the importance of education.
3. innovation of cooperative business
4. the importance of cooperation between cooperatives.

During the second day of the visit (May 16), Ms. Monique paid a visit to Fukushima Prefecture to gain insight into the future reconstruction effort after the Great East Japan Earthquake and the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident. She met with some co-operative officials there and inspected some co-operative facilities.

She later paid a courtesy visit to Mr. MORIYAMA Hiroshi the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries with JJC representatives to exchange views on the reconstruction projects in Fukushima prefecture.

Also accompanied the ICA president on the visit to Fukushima were the chairman of JJC and also the president of JA-ZENCHU (Central Union of Agricultural Cooperatives) Mr. OKUNO Choe, the president of JCCU Mr. ASADA Katsumi and the Regional Director for the International Cooperative Alliance Asia-Pacific Region, Mr. Balasubramanian Iyer.

(R) Monique Leroux ICA president and Asada JJC vice-chairman and President of JCCU / (L) ICA President’s visit to Fukushima