Cooperatives throughout the country will gather at the iNkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre in Durban this coming Saturday, to celebrate the International Day of Cooperatives under the theme “Cooperatives Enterprise Remain Strong in Times of Crisis”.
The Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Rob Davies says the objective of the celebrations is to increase public awareness about cooperatives and their contribution to socio-economic development and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.
According to Davies the celebration is a way of drawing international attention to cooperatives and ordinary people on the role cooperatives play in improving the socio-economic conditions of their members.
“The celebrations highlight the positive role cooperatives have to play in providing a network of opportunities among cooperatives and between cooperatives and members of the public aspiring to establish cooperatives. The celebration is also a way of drawing international attention celebration is a way of drawing international attention to cooperatives and ordinary people on the role cooperatives play in improving the socio-economic conditions of their members.
The celebrations will also highlight the positive role cooperatives have to play in providing a network of opportunities among cooperatives and between cooperatives and members of the public aspiring to establish cooperatives,” stated Davies.
He added that government’s plans to boost support to small businesses and cooperatives have received a boost with approval of the Co-operatives Amendment Bill by the National Council of Provinces.
The Co-operatives Amendment Bill will lead to the establishment of an agency that will become a one-stop shop for co-operatives. It will also result in the establishment of the Co-operatives Development Agency, which will become a one-stop shop for both financial and non-financial support tailor-made for co-operatives, including administration of incentives, provision of training, and improvement of working conditions in the co-operatives sector," stated Davies.
The International Day of Cooperatives is an annual event that is celebrated by cooperatives around the world, to create awareness on the indispensable role cooperatives play in our communities.
This week’s event will be hosted by the Department of Trade and Industry, (the dti), in partnership with KwaZulu-Natal Provincial government, eThekwini Municipality and the South African National Apex Cooperative (SANACO).
Enquiries:
Sidwell Medupe
Departmental Spokesperson
Cell: 079 492 1774
Tel: 012 394 1650
E-mail: MSMedupe@thedti.gov.za
Follow us on Twitter: @the_dti
