Media

Welcome to the 2012 International Summit of Cooperatives Website

The International Summit of Cooperatives is taking place between October 8 and 11, 2012, in conjunction with the United Nations' International Year of Cooperatives. Some 1,500 officers and delegates from 90 countries will come together at the Quebec City Convention Centre, in Quebec City, Canada, for the Summit.

The theme of the Summit is "The Amazing Power of Cooperatives." Why "amazing?" Because the cooperative model, though still unfamiliar to the general population, accounts for an astonishing 750,000 enterprises with over one billion members worldwide.

Cooperatives employ 20% more people than traditional enterprises, generating more than 100 million jobs globally. Alone, the 300 largest cooperatives worldwide generate a total turnover of US $1.6 trillion, an economic power equivalent to the world's ninth largest economy (2008).

A Stimulating Program

In view of the major challenges that cooperatives face, some 100 world-renowned speakers, including Nobel Prize winners, economists, big names from the world of cooperatives and mutuals, as well as government representatives, have been invited to speak at the Summit.

Don't miss the unveiling of the results of 6 groundbreaking international studies on:

major world trends and the issues and challenges they represent for cooperatives and mutuals
development strategies
best practices based on key organizational processes
productivity, financing, and capitalization
economic and social impact of cooperatives and mutuals in their communities
member expectations of their cooperatives and mutuals

Several sectoral round tables are also on the Summit's agenda, along with workshops and full meetings.

Information Before, During and After the Summit

Before, during and after the International Summit of Cooperatives, reporters and media representatives can access a variety of news backgrounders on this site: