SANTIAGO, May 27, 2025 –– Cooperatives have been urged to take on a more prominent role in driving productive transformation and promoting inclusive, sustainable development across Latin America and the Caribbean.
The call was made by various representatives at the inauguration ceremony of the International Year of Cooperatives 2025, held at the headquarters of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean [ECLAC] in Santiago, Chile.
The event was organised by the International Cooperative Alliance [ICA], Cooperatives of the Americas – A Region of the ICA, the CORFO-INAC Committee of Chile, and ECLAC, with support from German Cooperation. The aim was to raise public awareness of the cooperative movement’s contributions to sustainable and inclusive development and to strengthen collaboration between cooperatives, regional governments, and the United Nations.
The two-day meeting featured addresses from José Manuel Salazar-Xirinachs, ECLAC’s Executive Secretary; Nicolás Grau Veloso, Chile’s Minister of Economy, Development and Tourism; and José Alves de Souza, President of Cooperatives of the Americas.
“Because they generate growth and employment, foster collaboration in solving shared problems, and are deeply rooted in communities, cooperatives are being called upon to play a leading role in transforming our economies,” said Salazar-Xirinachs. “They are central to our collective efforts to break free from the traps of low growth, high inequality, limited social mobility, and weak institutional capacity.”
He highlighted cooperatives as key partners in productive development, thanks to their collaborative approach to addressing issues such as access to employment, housing, credit, education, health, energy, and production.
“In this sense,” he added, “we see significant parallels and synergies between the cooperative model and cluster initiatives, as well as other forms of productive integration.”
In a video message, Chilean President Gabriel Boric reaffirmed his government’s commitment to the cooperative movement during this International Year of Cooperatives.
“We believe cooperatives are a strategic player in the international economy, and particularly within our own. In times of uncertainty, cooperatives offer a democratic and alternative organisational model for addressing challenges,” said Minister Nicolás Grau Veloso, echoing the president’s remarks.
Meanwhile, José Alves de Souza described cooperatives as a cultural and productive model that remains relevant and necessary after more than 130 years of existence.
“This model is still essential for tackling the inequality that continues to define our region,” he stated, noting that over 104,000 cooperatives currently operate throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.
Other notable speakers at the opening included Danilo Salerno, Regional Director of Cooperatives of the Americas; Siria Jeldes, Chilean representative on the Board of Cooperatives of the Americas; Fernanda Cardona, Minister of Industry, Energy and Mining of Uruguay; Amparo Merino, Spain’s Secretary of State for the Social Economy [via video]; and Ariel Guarco, President of the International Cooperative Alliance.
Throughout the event, speakers highlighted the vital role cooperatives play in democratising the economy, achieving the Sustainable Development Goals [SDGs] of the 2030 Agenda, and addressing global challenges.
They emphasised that cooperatives help to create decent work opportunities, promote gender equality, protect the environment, and strengthen local supply chains. As such, the cooperative model was presented as a resilient, inclusive, and transformative tool for sustainable development and community empowerment.
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