Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade, Cooperatives, MSMEs and Communications visited the Chiba Toukatu Agricultural Cooperative (JA Chiba Toukatu) in Tokyo, Japan.
The visit, part of the Deputy Prime Minister's official programme for the Fiji-Japan Business Mission and Fiji’s National Day at the World Expo 2025 in Osaka, reflected Fiji’s partnership with Japan, which has thrived for more than 50 years.
It also provided an opportunity to study Japan’s successful agricultural cooperative model and to explore how its principles might be adapted to Fiji’s context.
“The JA Chiba Toukatu experience is a clear demonstration of how cooperative enterprises can empower communities,” Kamikamica said.
“As Fiji and Japan mark over five decades of friendship, we look forward to drawing inspiration from this model to advance our own cooperative sector," he added.
JA Chiba Cooperative was formed through the consolidation of several cooperatives, including JA Chiba Kenhoku, JA Kashiwa-shi and JA Nishi-Funabashi, followed by a 2017 merger with JA Tokatsu Futaba.
It now operates with a share capital of ¥1.76 billion (FJ$26.8 million) and a membership base of 18,882, comprising 7,168 regular members and 11,714 associate members.
The JA Group Chiba provides a wide range of services, including general coordination and management consulting, credit and economic support (purchasing and marketing), mutual insurance, welfare assistance, media and information services, publishing and cultural activities as well as travel services.
