Greetings on the occasion of the International Co-operative Day from the ICA President Ariel Guarco
Dear cooperators from all over the world!
The International Day of Cooperatives is a great opportunity to make it clear that our businesses are building a better future for all by creating decent jobs, ensuring gender equality, innovating with young people; creating optimal conditions for producers and consumers; educating, caring for and managing the natural, human and financial resources of each community for the common good.
This way of organising social and economic relations has a 200-year proven history and is today the most direct path to a sustainable future in social, economic and environmental matters.
And the concept of “cooperation” can also be called synonymous with the concept of “peace”. In a world engulfed in unacceptable military conflicts, as we are currently experiencing in Ukraine, experiencing growing inequality and under the threat of climate change, we must deepen the cooperative paradigm not only within our organisations, but also externally – in each of our countries, our regions and globally. To do this, we have placed the International Cooperative Alliance at the centre of the main debates taking place in the international cooperative ecosystem. Strengthened relationships with many of these organisations and the United Nations have resulted in the proclamation of 2025 as the International Year of Cooperatives.
Thanks to the efforts of all those who believe in us and do the hard work in their co-operatives every day, we are becoming more and more visible on the world stage. Through our activities in different countries, we are responding to the global challenges formulated by each of the regional and sectoral organisations of the ICA.
Yes, we live in a historic time that requires great responsibility and commitment. And we have the tools to help us meet these challenges. Cooperative brothers and sisters, I know that in every place of the world, we will be celebrating this day knowing that we are part of a great family with more than one billion members worldwide.
Let us live this day with joy, hope and conviction of building a better future for all.
