It is with regret that due to the COVID-19 pandemic we have to postpone the 33rd World Cooperative Congress. This important event will still be held in Seoul, Republic of Korea and is now scheduled to take place between the 1st and 3rd of March 2021. The preparatory events, namely the ICA Cooperative Research Conference and the International Cooperative Law Forum, will take place between the 26th and 28th of February.*
With the COVID-19 pandemic, the 33rd World Cooperative Congress will be an opportunity to look back and validate the cooperative movement’s resilience, leadership and solidarity during times of crisis. This event will now serve as an important forum to:
- Discuss why the cooperative identity, including definition, principles and values, is needed now more than ever;
- Show cooperative resilience by sharing experiences and testimonies; and
- Discuss how cooperatives can significantly contribute to the global economic, social and environmental reconstruction.
As originally defined, the theme of the Congress will still be ‘Deepening our Cooperative Identity.’ Looking beyond the COVID-19 pandemic, we look forward to deepening our understanding of how our cooperative identity has enabled us to tackle this crisis and how we will overcome other global challenges like climate change, sustainable development, peace and equality. Together, we can cooperate to create a better, fairer and more inclusive world for generations to come.
For more information, click here, or send an email to ica@ica.coop.
Sincerely,
Bruno Roelants
Director General
*The dates for these events are subject to be further rescheduled should the pandemic make it necessary for force majeure.
