The International Cooperative Alliance is happy to welcome the Cooperativa Empresarial Multiactiva Popular (COEMPOPULAR) from Colombia, Central Organization for Rural Production Cooperatives of Iran (CURPC) from Iran and Folksam Insurance Group from Sweden as a full Members. The Ministry of Economic Development (MEO) from Curaçao joined the ICA as an Associate Member in August.
COEMPOPULAR is a primary savings and loan cooperative. Its main objective is to satisfy the diverse necessities of its members through the provision of efficient credit, welfare and solidarity services, in order to improve their quality of life and that of their families, as well as the other services allowed to cooperatives by the legal provisions in force to, in general, promote the satisfaction of the economic, social, cultural and environmental needs of those, as well as collaborate with the sustainable development of the communities on which it operates.
It has offices in Bogota, Cali, Medellin, Barranquilla, Bucaramanga and Ibague. Currently, it has 142 companies with savings agreement, the number of individual members is 13,700.
Website: www.coempopular.coop
CURPC aims to empower the rural production cooperatives in terms of autonomy and independence nationwide. The philosophy behind establishment of rural production cooperate societies is to overcome limiting features of Iran agriculture system which are: small farm size, scattered parcels and small holder farmers and legal system. The main causes include the enforcement of the Act of Land Reformation in 1961, land tenure transformation after Islamic revolution and status quo of heritage law.
Member societies 2017: 29
Individual members: 1,300
Website: http://curpc.ir
Folksam is an insurance mutual that offers a wide variety of insurance, savings and loan products. They are one of the top mutuals in the world. Folksam was previously a full ICA member from January 1963 to December 2006.
The Ministry of Economic Development (MOE) is responsible for developing the cooperative sector on the island of Curaçao as part of the Economic Development and Innovation sector.
UPDATED MEMBER STATISTICS
The newest membership statistics are therefore:
317 member organisations of which 271 are full members and 46 are Associate Members from 110 countries. Curaçao is a new member country.
