Between 6 and 9 November, delegates from the Singapore Co-operative Movement (SCM) attended a series of exhibitions, forums, capacity-building sessions, and co-operative visits in Shanghai. Organised by International Co-operative Alliance (ICA), All-China Federation of Supply and Marketing Cooperatives (ACFSMC) and National Association of Cooperatives and Other Forms of Economic Communities of the Republic of Kazakhstan (NACOFEC), the event brought together more than 80 delegates from over 20 countries, including China, Japan, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Korea. 

Forces reshaping our world

With an opening address by Mr Adili Wubuli, President, Board of Supervisors, ACFSMC, the event marked the global celebration of the International Year of Co-operatives. The programme spotlighted the transformative forces shaping today’s world — from climate change and artificial intelligence to technological advancements — and underscored the evolving role of co-operatives in building a sustainable and inclusive global order.

A four-pillar framework for supporting co-operatives in trade was presented:

1. Policy Support - Recognising and integrating co-operatives into national and regional trade policies
2. Trade Facilitation - Improving market access, logistics, and standardisation
3. Capacity Building - Training, digital readiness and certification
4. Finance and Investment - Expanding funding, credit and capital opportunities

This framework is something that co-operatives in Singapore  can learn from, especially on the strengthening membership base and engagement with partners. The principles of capacity building, policy influence, and strengthening systems are very relevant to how we support changemaking and community initiatives.

Co-operatives: A Vital Force in the Global Economy

At the forum, “Co-operatives Empowering Sustainable Trade and Supply Chain”, delegates discussed the vital role of co-operatives in the global economy, including their contributions to poverty reduction and food security. The ICA-AP Committee on Trade and Business highlighted ongoing efforts to advance co-operative trade through policy dialogue, digital innovation, and trade fairs. Speakers emphasised the importance of strong co-operative ecosystems built on knowledge sharing, pooled expertise, and collaboration to support resilient, inclusive, and sustainable global trade systems.

Relating to the SCM’s 10-Year Transformation Roadmap with the pillar on Operational Excellence and Scale-Up, SNCF Chairperson and NTUC FairPrice President (Group CEO Office), Mr Tng Ah Yiam, shared how FairPrice leverages digitalisation to strengthen its supply chain management in an increasingly dynamic environment. He also highlighted the relevance of the “3S” approach — Shared Across, Shared Between, and Shared Services — in mobilising human expertise within organisations and across borders to enhance operational efficiency and partnership opportunities.

SNCF Chairperson and NTUC FairPrice President (Group CEO Office), Mr Tng Ah Yiam, spoke on the topic “Digitalisation & Resilience: FairPrice’s Supply Chain Management in a Dynamic World” at the ICA Trade and Development Forum, themed “Co-operatives Empowering Sustainable Trade and Supply Chain.”

Collective Connectivity on the Global Stage

Being the world’s first national-level exposition dedicated to imports, the 8^th China International Import Expo attracted over 4,000 overseas exhibitors from 155 countries, regions, and international organisations. Spanning more than 430,000 square metres, the exhibition showcased a wide range of products, technologies, and services across sectors such as medical equipment, consumer goods, and intelligent industry and information technology.

The presence of the co-operatives and federations at the expo also demonstrated the power of collective connectivity, where ICA and China’s co-operatives and federations leveraged their networks to create shared opportunities for partners to showcase their products and services on an international stage. 

Pooling Strength for Greater Impact

The visits to China’s specialty retail outlets — the Shanghai Sanyang Southern Goods Store and the Shanghai National Specialty Food Store — offered valuable insights into traditional commerce models, large-scale retail operations, diverse supply chain approaches, and the branding of regional agricultural products. These outlets operate as centralised marketplaces that consolidate products from multiple regions, demonstrating how a unified retail platform can significantly amplify visibility, strengthen brand recognition, and expand market access for producers and co-operatives alike.

Co-op visit to the Shanghai Sanyang Southern Goods Store - Shao Wan Sheng

This model underscores the power of bringing co-operatives together: when individual co-ops pool their strengths, networks, and products within a shared ecosystem, they can achieve greater collective impact than they would alone — enhancing competitiveness, widening reach, and creating stronger value propositions for the communities they serve.

“Collaboration through co-operatives could transform supply chains into ecosystems of shared and better distribution of prosperity and growth”, said Mr Toh Kian Beng, Treasurer, A Good Space Co-operative and Emerging Leader.

“For us as a co-operative, it’s about using data responsibly to better understand customers’ needs – so we can serve them more meaningfully, not just more efficiently. This is how digitalization enhances relationships, not replaces them – which I believe is very much in line with co-operative values”, said Mr Tng Ah Yiam, SNCF Chairperson and NTUC FairPrice President (Group CEO Office).

From left: Emerging leader Toh Kian Beng, A Good Space Co-operative, SNCF CEO Ang Hin Kee, and SNCF Chairperson Mr Tng Ah Yiam at the 8^th China International Import Expo

Shared Challenges and Priorities for Co-operatives

Co-operatives, regardless of sector, share similar challenges: building capacity, gaining recognition, and creating networks that allow members to thrive. For many, this means continuing to support members through skills and expertise development, advocate for stronger structures that enable community-led efforts, and strengthen partnerships and collaborations with other co-operatives and organisations both locally and internationally.

By Ho Jia Hui, edited by Mary Njo