Following the great success of the 2012 and 2014 Summits, Desjardins and the International Co-operative Alliance have announced that a third edition of the International Summit of Cooperatives will be held from October 11 to 13, 2016, in Quebec City, Canada.
While the first two editions aimed to promote the co-operative business model and raise its profile, the third edition will show the real impact co-operatives have on the local, regional, and world economy by showcasing the actions of co-operatives in their communities.
“Our goal for 2016 is to demonstrate that an important strength of the co-operative business model is its ability to interco-operate among its sectors of activity, both locally and internationally,” said Desjardins Group Chair of the Board, President, and CEO and Summit co-host Monique F. Leroux. “With its flexibility, resilience, and focus on putting human capital before financial capital, the co-operative model generates tangible social, economic, and environmental benefits.”
In a constantly changing world marked by a fragile global economy, the cooperative business model is more relevant than ever, and it helps promote responsible economic growth. “As we head toward 2016, we want co-operatives to be fully recognized as part of the solution to economic and financial problems,” said International Co-operative Alliance President and Summit co-host Dame Pauline Green. “The time has come to include co-operative actions in major socioeconomic development strategies for sustainable, equitable, and democratic prosperity.”
Considered the premier event in the co-operative business community, the Summit has become a must-attend event: It confirms the credibility of co-operatives and their crucial role in the global economy with both governments and international organizations.Left to right: Desjardins
Photo: Group Chair of the Board, President, and CEO and Summit co-host Monique F. Leroux, Dame Pauline Green, President of the International Co-operative Alliance.
