Since 1991, ICA-AP in collaboration with JCCU has been conducting training program for managers of consumer co-ops in Asia to learn about Japanese consumer co-ops businesses and activities. Every year two batches of trainees participate in this program which is normally held in the month of July and November respectively.

The second batch of the 2018 training program was held from November 12 to November 25, mainly in the area of store operation, with Co-opdeli Consumers’ Co-operative Union and Co-op Kobe providing the training grounds, the facilities and resource persons.

It was attended by five co-operative store managers from iCOOP KOREA (Ms. CHOI MIGUM), Saigon Co-op, Vietnam (Ms. TRAN THI NHU LAI & Mr. NGO TRIEU DUONG), KO-UMMAH, Malaysia (Ms. NUR ATIQAH WADIAH BINTI AZMI), and Shree Warana Vibhag Sahakari Grahak Mandal Ltd., India (Mr. SHRIDHAR SHANKARRAO PATIL).

In this training program, through lectures, store training and tour of co-op facilities, the trainees learned extensively about the productivity improvement of co-op store business, how members voice are incorporated in co-op businesses and activities, and members’ activities.

 At Co-opdeli headquarters, the trainees received a brief explanation on the structure of Co-opdeli and paid visits to Co-op Mirai facilities including a store, a day-care center to learn about the welfare service of consumer co-ops, a logistics center and a recycling facility.

The state of the inspection of Co-op Mirai day-care center

At Co-op Kobe, trainees inspected the home delivery distribution center and store facilities to learn about day-to-day workplace management. Also through lectures such as the history of Co-op Kobe, members’ activities, employee education, environmental activities, and welfare business, the trainees learned about the role and the activities of consumer co-ops in the local community.

The state of the inspection of Co-op Kobe home delivery distribution center

At the end of the program, trainees made presentation to the board members of Co-op Kobe. They expressed their ideas about how they could use the training experience to improve their work upon returning to their home countries.

Group photograph of the trainees and board members of Co-op Kobe