Experts deliberate on the cooperative advantage in building a better world

Abstract

“The establishment of cooperative unions is a recent phenomenon in the history of cooperatives development in Ethiopia” he remarked. He noted that the country has embarked on an ambitious Growth and Transformation Plan that will lift the country to middle income status by 2020-2023 and stated “Cooperatives are considered as one of the key instrument that will help the country realize the objectives of the Plan.” A three-day global forum and workshop on the theme “Harnessing the Cooperative Advantage to Build a Better World” opened today at the United Nations Conference Centre (UNCC) to examine the distinct ways in which the cooperative model promotes individual and collective self-help, contributes to socio-economic development, and strengthens communities around the world. In her opening message, Ms. Ngone Diop speaking on behalf of Ms. Thokozile Ruzvizdo, Director of the African Centre for Gender and Social Development at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) said, “This Forum is very timely and is a component of the various activities undertaken through out the year to celebrate and promote the cooperative model and also promote capacity for cooperative enterprises”.