Brussels, April 1, 2015 – 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.
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About the International Co-operative Alliance
The International Co-operative Alliance is an independent, non-governmental organisation established in 1895 to unite, represent and serve co-operatives worldwide. The Alliance provides a global voice and forum for knowledge, expertise and co-ordinated action for and about co-operatives.
The members of the Alliance are international and national co-operative organisations from all sectors of the economy. The Alliance has members from 100 countries, representing close to one billion individuals worldwide.
According to the World Co-operative Monitor (http://www.monitor.coop) the world’s top 300
co-operatives have 2.2 trillion USD in turnover. Co-operatives generate partial or full-time employment for at least 250 million individuals worldwide, either in or within the scope of
co-operatives, making up almost 12% of the entire employed population of the G20 countries.
About the International Summit of Cooperatives
The International Summit of Cooperatives is the world’s leading event for business development in the cooperative and mutual community. It offers managers, decision-makers, and leaders of cooperative and mutual enterprises a unique forum for reflection, discussion, cooperation, and training on major trends and their current and future issues, supported and enhanced by the attendance of internationally recognized experts. By demonstrating that cooperatives are one answer to the major economic issues of our times, the Summit aims to promote and foster the development of cooperative enterprises in all countries.
Alliance media contact:
Jan Schiettecatte
Communications Director
schiettecatte@ica.coop
Office: +32 2 743 10 30
Mobile: +32 478 84 51 30
www.ica.coop
