Cooperatives build a better World

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It is a great honour to address you at the launch of the UN’s International Year of Cooperatives, in 2025.

The theme for the year “Cooperatives Build a Better World” sums up the vital role cooperatives play in fostering inclusive and sustainable development, worldwide.

Cooperatives exist in various forms, yet they serve as significant agents of social and economic empowerment.

They embody important social and economic values - such as, solidarity, democracy, equality, and equity. They also promote ethical principles like honesty, openness and social responsibility.

These values guide cooperatives in their pursuit of economic viability and social inclusivity.

The ILO is steadfast in its commitment to promoting cooperatives. We see them as a key driver of productive employment, decent work, and social justice. Cooperatives mobilize resources, generate employment, and contribute to local and national economies. Most importantly – cooperatives provide a path that places people at the heart of progress.

In celebrating this International Year of Cooperatives I call upon governments and development partners to strengthen the policy, legal, and financial frameworks that support cooperatives. The ILO’s Recommendation 193 on the Promotion of Cooperatives provides a globally recognized framework to guide our efforts.

Together, let’s ensure that 2025 marks the beginning of a new era for cooperatives, one that brings the goal of a more just and inclusive global economy closer.

Thank you.