KUCHING: Cooperatives should be more competitive and proactive in line with the accelerated changes taking placeglobally.
Co-operative Institute of Malaysia (IKMa) director general Datuk Mohd Ali Mansor told a seminar that in the face of an increasingly hypercompetitive business world, the cooperative movement needs to think outside the box.
He said the changing global environment, emergence of the digital revolution, and increasingly complex customer requirements, should prompt cooperatives to change their business strategies and infrastructure.
“In the Malaysian Cooperative Transformation Plan (Transkom) 2021-2025, the first thrust emphasises the achievement of goals based on mutual well-being and prosperity.
“Meanwhile, the fourth thrust emphasises the creation of a new business model based on technology and knowledge.
“As this seminar highlights the topic of Transformasi RantaianTani Niaga: Peluang Koperasi, it is one of the initiatives implemented by IKMa to ensure the sustainability of cooperatives, and achieve the policies set by the government,” he said during his speech when officiating at the seminar at a local hotel here, on Sunday (Dec 4).
Mohd Ali said in Malaysia, there are 3,262 cooperatives involved in agricultural activities with a membership of 720,000people and shares of RM746.21 million.
Sarawak has 267 cooperatives involved in agriculture with a membership of 17,226 people with a 11 million shares.
“With this number, cooperatives can become a monopoly of agricultural development activities in our country, similar to Japan.
“That is why, we hope that with the sharing of knowledge fromthis seminar, members of cooperatives will break out of the norm and dare to make a difference in business to give a good return to the cooperatives and benefit members and the local communities,” he said.
