The Singapore National Co-operative Federation (SNCF) and NTUC FairPrice Warehouse Club (WHC) hosted a delegation of 70 members from the Indonesian Co-operative Council of West Jawa on 4 July 2018. Prior to Singapore, the delegates visited the co-operatives in Malaysia.
The delegates were keen to learn from Singapore’s experience in promoting the co-operative movement and were particularly interested in the structure and regulations of school co-operatives in Singapore. In Indonesia, the minimum age requirement for joining a co-operative is 18 years of age. Singapore has in recent years introduced coop clubs for secondary school students to learn values such as resilience and responsibility and understand social entrepreneurship. Currently, there is a total of 15 co-op clubs.
After a brief introduction on SNCF and NTUC FairPrice Co-operative Ltd, there was a lively discussion on co-operative business model and how they are different from other business models. Co-ops focus more on social good than commercial success.
Co-operatives take an ethical, sustainable approach to business by considering not only the economic impacts of our activities, but also the social/cultural and environmental impacts. We are regulated social enterprises that meet community or societal needs.
The visit ended with a trip to NTUC WHC.
