“I would like to appeal to the public to visit these stands and buy as many products as they want and also encourage everyone not to miss on this mega expo,” said the acting MEC for Economic Development and Tourism Ms Ina Cronje, speaking at Pietermaritzburg City Hall yesterday evening, where she together with the Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry Ms Maria Ntuli and the KZN Premier Dr Zweli Mkhize, officially opened the International Co-operatives celebrations and exhibitions, marking celebrations culminating to the 2009 International Day of the Co-operatives this coming Saturday, 4 July 2009.
"On behalf of my Cabinet colleague, Mr Michael Mabuyakhulu, who is currently on an official trip to Libya, I wish to begin by expressing our provincial government’s gratitude to the national Department of Trade and Industry for choosing this province to celebrate this year’s International Co-operatives Day. KwaZulu-Natal has embraced co-operatives with enthusiasm. We believe that this economic sector reflects the general spirit of Ubuntu because it encourages people to share their ideas, skills and resources when pursing business ventures. We are delighted that this important event is hosted in our province. We believe the deliberations and exhibitions featuring this four-day event would continue inspiring our people – assuring them that despite the current hard economic times, there is still hope for the future.
"The first co-operatives saw the light more than 200 years ago when rural entrepreneurs and farmers united voluntarily to help one another to overcome their limited access to commercial opportunities. However, the co-operative as a modern business structure originated only in the middle of the 19th century in Britain. In response to the harsh living conditions brought forth by industrialization, some former wage labourers began to form co-operative businesses to meet their needs. Though not the first, the most famous a consumer co-operative, the 'Rochdale Society of Equitable Pioneers' was founded in Lancashire’s textile town of Rochdale in 1844. Its founders established a unique combination of written policies that governed the affairs of their co-operative which very soon became a model for similar co-operatives around the world. The rules that governed this collective enterprise included democratic control by members, payment of limited interest on capital, and net margins distributed to members according to the levels of their patronage. Those basic principles have remained inspiring ideals for approximately 760 million people in 100 countries across the globe.
"In 1995 the General Assembly of the United Nations decided to declare the first Saturday of July each year as International Day of Co-operatives. This declaration coincided with the centennial anniversary of the International Co-operative Alliance which has celebrated this day since 1923. This week marks this commitment by the people who have a vision which perceives co-operatives as a socio-economic engagement, primarily aimed at encouraging people to share their resources in an effort to transform their lives, fighting poverty and unemployment.
"The co-operative philosophy is not a new phenomenon to the human race as it can be traced to the very nature of mankind as a social being. Mankind needs the co-operation of one another in order to perform his or her day to day activities and achieve great heights. It is against this background that the modern philosophy of co-operative movement is believed to be a social and economic solution for most communities including our own South African society. This is in line with the concept of Ubuntu which cuts across all cultures, yet it has been more pronounced and practiced among African communities.
"In 2004 South Africa demonstrated the need to expand its co-operative engagement by developing the co-operative Policy Paper of 2004, Co-operative Development Strategy of 2004, Co-operative Act of 2005, and the Co-operative Banks Act of 2008. This is indeed a realisation that we have to diversify our approaches to fast-track economic expansion that will benefit all sections of our society. Co-operatives have proven to be capable of integrating huge numbers of ordinary citizens into the economic mainstream of their countries. They serve as practical entry points to the economy for the historically excluded communities.
"On the occasion of this International Day of Co-operatives, I have the pleasure to acknowledge that the South African government regards the co-operative movement is as a very important in achieving our development goals. As far back as the 19th century the founders of the first co-operatives realised that they could improve their lives by working together. The co-operative movement has since become an indispensable and influential part of economic and social development. There is no doubt that co-operatives will eventually serve as a genuine conduit to blend the second and first streams of the economy – as we believe that co-operatives entrepreneurs should graduate to the greater heights of our economy.
"But this would require us as government, the private sector and other social partners to work together in developing strategies that would enhance the role of co-operatives in our economy and social transformation. Crucially important, is the provision of both technical and business skills development programmes for aspirant entrepreneurs to ensure their sustainability in the highly competitive global economy. Similarly information on best business practises for co-operatives is essential, as well as an environment conducive for co-operatives to fully partake in cross-border trade instead of being limited to small scale internal commercial operations.
"To mark this auspicious day the national Department of Trade and Industry saw it fit to partner with the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development and Tourism in a move to bring awareness on the importance of influencing global recovery through co-operatives. The two strategic partners for this event have also agreed to involve other provinces by inviting them to be part of the exhibition that will be a build up to the actual International Co-operatives Day. It is no doubt that this event will be showcasing high profile products that you will not get anywhere else.
Contact for more information:
Ntokozo Maphisa (Media Liaison Officer)
Cell: 082 7730937
Issued by: KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
2 July 2009
