Why Co-operative?

All over the world, millions of people have chosen the Co-operative model of business enterprise to enable them to reach their personal and community development goals. Co-operatives create and maintain employment providing income; they are responsible for producing and supplying safe, quality services to their members, but also to the communities in which they operate. By putting the Co-operative Principles and ethics in practice they promote solidarity and tolerance, while as 'schools of democracy' they promote the rights of each individual - women and men.

Co-operatives are socially conscious responding to the needs of their members whether it is to provide literacy or technical training.

Through their varied activities, co-operatives are in many countries significant social and economic players in national economies, thus making not only personal development a reality, but contributing to the well-being of entire populations on a national level.

Over 800 million people are members of a co-operative and Co-operatives provide 100 million jobs worldwide, 20% more than multinational enterprises.