A delegation of top sales achievers from Philippines-based ICMIF member CLIMBS has recently travelled to Japan, together with the senior management team from the cooperative insurer, after their exemplary efforts in achieving their targets for the year 2022. The objective of CLIMBS’ incentive programme is to boost its sales performance and therefore the scheduled events and activities of the programme was the opportunity to visit various cooperatives in Japan — to learn from them and be inspired by their respective best practices.

On 3 August 2023, the CLIMBS team visited three cooperative insurers that are members of ICMIF and also members of the regional ICMIF Asia and Oceania Association. The visit was arranged and coordinated by Hiroko Kowada, Executive Secretary of the Asia and Oceania Association of the ICMIF. The delegation visited Kokumin Kyosai Co-op, CO-OP Kyosai, and Zenkyoren (National Mutual Insurance Federation of Agricultural Cooperatives).

The cooperatives that were visited are:

Kokumin Kyosai Co-op, formerly known as Zenrosai, established in September 1957, is a National Federation of Workers and Consumers Kyosai Cooperatives that provides insurance services for consumers.

CO-OP Kyosai, launched in 1984 to provide relief money for its cooperative members. It was born from and shaped by the voices of its cooperative members, where the majority of its members are women.

Zenkyoren (National Mutual Insurance Federation of Agricultural Cooperatives), the largest ICMIF member (and third overall) in the Global 500 rankings, is the national federation that manages Kyosai (the name for cooperative insurance in Japan) business for farmers in the JA Group, consisting of more than 500 Japan Agricultural Cooperatives (JAs) all over Japan. In the 2022 edition of the World Cooperative Monitor, Zenkyoren was ranked number three in the insurance category in terms of premium income.

After the visit, Noel Raboy, President and Chief Executive Officers of CLIMBS said: “We will continue to improve, increase proficiency, and will gain a competitive edge, while upholding the cooperative values and principles, as we echo our battle cry: ‘Insuring 20 Million Lives by 2024’.”

Photo shows: The Asia and Oceania Association of the ICMIF greeting the delegation from CLIMBS.