Global Co-operative Conference opens in South Africa

01 November 2013

The International Co-operative Alliance Conference and General Assembly has opened in Cape Town, South Africa.

The conference marks the first time the ICA Conference has been held in Africa and has seen over 1,000 co-operators descend on Cape Town.

In opening the conference, Dame Pauline Green said: “It’s my honour and privilege to welcome you on behalf of the ICA, and more importantly on behalf of our 1 billion fellow co-operators who own this great movement of ours around the world.”

“From its humble beginnings, the cooperative enterprise movement has grown until today it reaches out from every village, every town, and every city – every corner of this globe.”

Speakers included:

• Charles Gould, Director-General, International Co-operative Alliance
• Dame Pauline Green, President, International Co-operative Alliance
• Stanley Muchiri, Vice-President of the Alliance’s Africa region
• Dr Rob Davies, the Minister of Trade and Industry for South Africa
• Zimbabwean politician Sithembiso Nyoni