Promoting peace and dialogue: Why the global cooperative movement is coming to Panama
Panama is home to more than 615 active cooperatives, representing around 256,000 members and managing assets worth more than US$ 2.7 billion
BRUSSELS, July 12, 2026 — The International Cooperative Alliance [ICA] and Cooperatives of the Americas will bring the global cooperative movement to Panama this September for their General Assemblies and Global Conference. The event is being co-hosted by Panama’s Instituto Panameño Autónomo Cooperativo [IPACOOP], the government institution responsible for promoting, regulating and supervising the country’s cooperative sector.
Ahead of ICAPanama2026, IPACOOP explains how Panama’s cooperative movement has evolved, the opportunities and challenges it faces, and why the country is an ideal host for the global gathering.
Panama is home to more than 615 active cooperatives, representing around 256,000 members and managing assets worth more than US$ 2.7 billion. Established in 1980, IPACOOP works closely with national and international partners through its international cooperation department, which coordinates external financing, develops cooperation agreements and links local cooperative needs with international support.
Strengthening Panama’s cooperative movement
IPACOOP’s mandate combines two complementary responsibilities: promoting the creation of new cooperatives and supervising existing ones.
The institute encourages the development of new cooperatives through education, outreach, technical assistance and advisory services, helping them become sustainable, efficient enterprises that improve the livelihoods of members and their communities.
At the same time, it oversees established cooperatives to ensure they remain financially sound, well-governed and fully compliant with national legislation.
Panama’s largest cooperative sector by assets and financial activity is the multi-service cooperative sector. However, the movement is highly diversified, encompassing savings and credit, agriculture, agro-industry, transport, housing, education, youth and school cooperatives, among others.
Challenges and opportunities
Like many cooperative sectors worldwide, Panama faces the challenge of adapting to an increasingly complex regulatory and technological environment.
Among the key issues are compliance with national and international anti-money laundering regulations and financial sector legislation. Savings and credit cooperatives, in particular, are investing in digital transformation to remain competitive with commercial banks while attracting younger generations into the movement.
Today, the cooperative sector contributes approximately 4 percent of Panama’s GDP.
Despite these challenges, IPACOOP sees significant opportunities ahead. Hosting the ICA Global Conference offers a platform to showcase Panama’s cooperative sector internationally, attract investment and demonstrate the cooperative model’s contribution to community wellbeing and inclusive economic development.
The institute is also focusing on expanding opportunities for women-led cooperatives, rural enterprises and agricultural producers by improving access to finance, encouraging innovation and strengthening links with international social investment partners.
A historic opportunity for Panama
For IPACOOP and Panama’s cooperative movement, hosting the 2026 ICA General Assemblies and Global Conference represents a landmark achievement.
Beyond the international recognition it brings to the country’s cooperative sector, the event is expected to generate wider economic benefits through increased tourism, higher hotel occupancy and greater demand for transport, hospitality and other local services.
The conference will welcome more than 1,500 delegates from around the world, reinforcing Panama’s role as an international meeting point and strengthening its position within the global cooperative movement.
IPACOOP also sees the event as an opportunity to showcase its work on innovation, digitalisation, youth engagement and financial inclusion, while highlighting cooperative-led initiatives supporting microfinance, gender equality and rural development.
Building bridges for a peaceful world
The conference theme — “Building bridges: cooperative contribution to a peaceful world” — strongly resonates with Panama’s national identity.
Known as the “Bridge of the World, Heart of the Universe”, Panama has long served as a meeting point between continents, cultures and peoples. For IPACOOP, the theme reflects the country’s commitment to dialogue, cooperation and peaceful coexistence.
The iconic Bridge of the Americas, spanning the Panama Canal and linking North and South America, symbolises this spirit of connection. It also reflects the cooperative movement’s ability to unite people across cultures and borders while placing human dignity above conflict.
By bringing together more than 1,500 cooperative leaders from every region of the world, the conference aims to strengthen collaboration, encourage the exchange of ideas and build lasting international partnerships.
Celebrating the International Year of Cooperatives
Panama marked the International Year of Cooperatives 2025 with a series of national and regional events celebrating the movement’s contribution to society.
IPACOOP organised a flag-raising ceremony for the international cooperative flag, bringing together cooperative members, government officials, managers and youth cooperatives from across the country. International Day of Cooperatives was also celebrated in the province of Veraguas with exhibitions, parades and community events attended by thousands of cooperative members.
Another highlight was a regional conference organised jointly with the ICA and the Professionals’ Cooperative under the theme “Economy and Society of Care”, which attracted more than 400 participants at the City of Knowledge and received extensive national media coverage.
Looking ahead, IPACOOP believes cooperatives will continue building a better world by promoting social justice, inclusion, solidarity and sustainable economic development. By strengthening democratic participation, expanding financial inclusion and placing people before profit, cooperatives remain a powerful force for creating more resilient and equitable societies.
Source: International Cooperative Alliance [ICA].
https://thecooperator.news/registrations-open-for-ica-global-conference-and-assemblies-in-panama/
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