“Sahkar se Samriddhi – Cooperatives to Catalyze Goa’s Sustainable Growth,” says Registrar of Cooperative Societies at Goa Cooperative Summit 2025

Goa, September 4, 2025: The inaugural session of the Goa Cooperative Summit 2025, themed “Sahkar se Samriddhi – Catalyzing Goa’s Cooperative Potential”, set the tone for collaborative action to strengthen Goa’s cooperative sector as a driver of sustainable and inclusive growth. Organized by PHDCCI in collaboration with the Government of Goa, the summit brought together policy leaders, industry experts, cooperative practitioners, and financial institutions to chart a roadmap for leveraging Goa’s unique strengths in fisheries, tourism, agriculture, and rural entrepreneurship.
Delivering the Welcome Address, by Pratima G. Dhond, President, GCCI, expressed gratitude to PHDCCI and partners for bringing this important summit to Goa. She emphasized that Goa’s 5,500 cooperatives in housing, agriculture, dairy, fisheries, and banking have long been pillars of grassroots livelihoods. “Cooperatives are not just about business, they are about people, trust, and shared prosperity. By embracing digitalization, sustainable fisheries, eco-tourism, and community-led enterprises, Goa can position itself as a model of cooperative-driven growth,” she said.
In his Keynote Address, Ashutosh Apte, Registrar of Cooperative Societies, Government of Goa, outlined a vision for making cooperatives the backbone of Goa’s future development. He announced ambitious targets for 2025, including ensuring “no Panchayat left uncovered by cooperatives”, promoting multi-purpose societies, and integrating IT interventions for efficiency and transparency. He also shared innovative ideas such as cooperative-led Sahkar Taxi services, salt pan revitalization, and tapping Goa’s potential in pharma raw materials and non-traditional exports. Stressing youth and women’s participation, he said, “Each of us, in our own capacity, must take one step towards Viksit Bharat 2047. Only through collective action can cooperatives become true engines of prosperity.
Presenting the Industry Perspective, Shri Sandeep Dharkar, General Manager, NABARD, highlighted the need to align cooperatives with emerging opportunities such as EV charging infrastructure, renewable energy, shared IT services for rural banks, and digital platforms. He stressed that PACS and rural cooperatives could become hubs of innovation if technology adoption is scaled up and youth are actively engaged.
In a Special Address, Prabhakar Jha, Regional Director, RBI Panaji, underscored the importance of regulatory support, financial inclusion, and technology-enabled transparency. He encouraged cooperatives to adopt quality certification, compliance practices, and export-readiness standards, noting that Goa’s cooperatives have the potential to access global markets if they strengthen their supply chains and traceability systems.
Rupesh K. Pandey, Sr. Secretary, PHDCCI, lauded the contributions of all speakers and partners, reiterating that the summit would serve as a platform to convert ideas into actionable recommendations for Goa’s cooperative roadmap.
Delivering the Vote of Thanks, Dr. Jatinder Singh, Deputy Secretary General, PHDCCI, emphasized the Chamber’s commitment to supporting cooperative-led prosperity in Goa and across India. He noted that the cooperative movement is not merely an economic model but a social enterprise rooted in equity and inclusivity.