Following on from the success of the 2012 and 2014 editions, the International Summit of Cooperatives will once again gather delegates to Quebec City for a three-day global conference.
The event will take place on 11-13 October and will be co-hosted by the International Co-operative Alliance and Desjardins Group. The Summit helps to create global forum for co-operative leaders to share ideas, research and experiences.
Previous editions featured prominent speakers including former Nobel Prize laureates, renowned economists and high-level politicians. The first two conferences focused on raising the profile of the co-operative business model. The third edition will aim to highlight the impact co-operative enterprises have on the economy, whether at local, regional or global level. The conference will also explore how co-operatives can answer major economic issues.
The theme for 2016 will be based on the word "ACT" and will highlight how co-operatives act in terms of job and business creation, financial autonomy of individuals, good governance, community involvement or advancement of women.
“Our goal for 2016 is to demonstrate that an important strength of the co-operative business model is its ability to inter-co-operate among its sectors of activity, both locally and internationally. With its flexibility, resilience, and focus on putting human capital before financial capital, the co-operative model generates tangible social, economic, and environmental benefits,” said Monique Leroux, president, chair of the board and chief executive of Desjardins Group. Founded in 1900, Desjardins is now the largest association of credit unions in North America.
President of the International Co-operative Alliance, Dame Pauline Green, added: “As we head toward 2016, we want co-operatives to be fully recognised as part of the solution to economic and financial problems. The time has come to include co-operative actions in major socioeconomic development strategies for sustainable, equitable, and democratic prosperity.”
The first Summit gathered more than 2, 800 people from 91 countries in a three-day conference marking the International Year of Co-operatives. The second edition featured 3,000 attendees from 93 countries and 211 speakers. Over 85% of participants said they were satisfied with the event while 86% said they would attend the next summit.
