The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 2012 as the International Year of
Cooperatives and highlighted the contribution of cooperatives to the economic and social development, especially its impact on poverty reduction, job creation and social integration.

Under the slogan “cooperative companies help building a better world", the international year offers a great opportunity to show the impact of large and also small and medium sized cooperatives that significantly improve the lives of people in the world, also while raising awareness on cooperatives, the Year will help to support and encourage the development of such enterprises.

In particular allows the highlighting of the importance of cooperatives for entrepreneurship and job creation and, particularly, that cooperatives:

  • Provide a focus of economic growth and long-term opportunities for the articulation and to make projects viable.
  • They have an important resistance to the global economic crisis and create sustainable jobs in all sectors, avoiding relocation.
  • Are looking to meet the needs of partners and their social environment, create wealth and social welfare.

Organizations and institutions of all areas that are related to cooperatives, are putting in place various initiatives to celebrate the International year, from the International Cooperative Alliance, to governments and public institutions, through organizations representative of cooperatives, initiatives are being implemented with important outreach effort.

In this Autonomic Region, these initiatives are being managed in a cooperative and coordinated way between the Department of Labor and Welfare and associations of cooperatives, that developed a joint program for carrying out different activities and events during this year of 2012, in which Galicia keeps adding to the cooperative world.

Using this web page you can access information on upcoming events and can register to participate in those events.

 

"Cooperatives are a reminder to the international community that it’s possible to pursue economic viability and social responsibility.".

Ban Ki-moon, Secretary General of the United Nations