In 1990 JCCU and its member co-ops founded the "Asia Cooperative Development Fund” for the purpose of HRD, exchanges and cooperation between cooperatives in the Asia Pacific and Japan. Through the use of this fund ICA-AP training for managers of consumer co-ops have been organized each year in collaboration with JCCU.

The first batch of the 2016 program was held from July 29 to August 7, with Miyagi Co-op and Co-op Net Business Federation providing the training grounds, the facilities and resource persons.

The training program which lasted for 14 days was attended by 5 co-operative members from Shree Warana Vibhag Sahakari Grahak Mandal Ltd., India (Mr. Shridhar Nanaso Lambe and Mr. Ramchandra Pandurang Patil), Dure Consumer Co-operative Union, Korea (Ms. Dae-ok Choi and Mr. GyeongCheol Na), and Saigon Co-op, Viet Nam (Mr. Vo Dinh Dung) in the areas of store operation and management.

A comprehensive program, consisting of different training modules that covered the training proposals requested by the trainees to address their difficult challenges in their work place, was designed by the host organizations.

At Co-op Net, participants received lectures on the structure and mechanism of Co-op Net’s business solidarity, social and environmental initiatives.

At Miyagi Co-op, participants received lectures in the areas of store operation, home delivery, personnel education, examined how practical work is conducted at the store and had the chance to attend conventional meeting between the store manager and the chiefs of various sections as an eye opener to consumer co-op business.

At the end of the training, an action plan was drawn by each trainee to address what they intend implementing upon returning to their home countries. The trainees returned home on August 7.