CM Bhupendra Patel unveils Gujarat’s Cooperative Policy 2025

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Wednesday chaired the Cooperative Leaders’ Workshop at Gujarat National Law University as part of the International Cooperative Year-2025 celebrations themed “Cooperatives Build the Better World.”Organized by the state’s Department of Cooperation, Animal Husbandry, Cow Breeding, and Fisheries, the event brought together policymakers, cooperative leaders, and stakeholders to promote inclusive, sustainable, and resilient cooperative institutions. The initiative aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s mantra “Sahkar Se Samriddhi” (Prosperity through Cooperation) and is guided by Union Cooperation Minister Amit Shah.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel unveiled the state’s new Cooperative Policy 2025, describing it as a milestone in strengthening India’s cooperative model.“The new Cooperative Policy 2025 is a reflection of the Honorable Prime Minister’s firm resolve for cooperation and Swadeshi. This policy embodies the spirit of Sahakari Samriddhi and aligns with the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat. I am confident that this new policy will keep Gujarat at the forefront in the journey to make the country self-reliant,” the Chief Minister said.He emphasized that the state’s cooperative movement, inspired by the Amul dairy model that transformed rural livelihoods in the 1940s, continues to be a global benchmark for grassroots-led prosperity.

મુખ્યમંત્રી શ્રી ભૂપેન્દ્રભાઈ પટેલની અધ્યક્ષતામાં ‘આંતરરાષ્ટ્રીય સહકારી વર્ષ 2025’ અંતર્ગત આજે ગાંધીનગર ખાતે ‘સહકારથી સમૃદ્ધિ’ કાર્યક્રમનું ગુજરાત વિધાનસભાના માનનીય અધ્યક્ષ શ્રી શંકરભાઇ ચૌધરી તેમજ રાજ્યના મંત્રીશ્રીઓ શ્રી રાઘવજીભાઈ પટેલ, શ્રી મુળુભાઈ બેરા, શ્રી જગદીશભાઈ… pic.twitter.com/5hodTyGOkQ

— CMO Gujarat (@CMOGuj) August 20, 2025

The workshop witnessed the presence of key dignitaries, including Gujarat Legislative Assembly Speaker Shankar Chaudhary as chief guest, Agriculture Minister Raghavji Patel, Forest and Environment Minister Mulubhai Bera, Minister of State for Cooperation Jagdish Vishwakarma, and Minister of State for Forest and Environment Mukesh Patel. Prominent cooperative leaders such as Ajay Patel (Chairman, Gujarat State Cooperative Bank), Dilip Sanghani (Chairman, IFFCO), and Ashok Chaudhary (Chairman, GCMMF-Amul) also attended, alongside directors of district cooperative banks, milk unions, GUJCOMASOL, and Kheti Bank.With over 84,000 cooperative societies and 1.5 crore members, Gujarat’s cooperative sector has long been a driving force in agriculture, dairying, fisheries, and rural credit, reinforcing the state’s identity as the “cooperative capital of India.”
Political and Economic Significance
The presence of Speaker Shankar Chaudhary, senior state ministers, and guidance from Union Minister Amit Shah underscored the strategic importance of integrating cooperatives into India’s broader economic and political roadmap.According to the National Cooperative Union of India (2022), cooperatives contribute over 6% to India’s GDP—a figure the government aims to expand through targeted policies, welfare programs, and the institutional strengthening of cooperative bodies.The United Nations’ declaration of 2025 as the International Year of Cooperatives has provided fresh impetus to this movement, with India leveraging the global spotlight to highlight its model of people-driven economic growth.The Cooperative Leaders’ Workshop in Gandhinagar served not only as a platform for policy unveiling but also as a reaffirmation of Gujarat’s role in leading India’s cooperative resurgence toward a more self-reliant economy.

(State Correspondent)