The first International Summit of Cooperatives gets down to work in Quebec City, Canada

QUEBEC CITY, Oct. 8, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - Work got underway this Monday at the 2012 International Summit of Cooperative as 2,800 participants from 91 countries came together to discuss the major business issues facing the cooperative model. On the theme "The Amazing Power of Cooperatives", the Summit will welcome internationally renowned speakers, including several recipients of the Nobel prize as well as a number of political and economic personalities. This international event is being held under the banner of three cohosts: Desjardins Group, the International Co-operative Alliance (ICA) and Saint Mary's University. 

Mrs Monique F. Leroux, Chair of the Board, president and CEO of Desjardins Group, considers it to be an important opportunity for cooperatives all over the world. "The Summit offers a unique opportunity to develop partnerships between cooperative groups, in order to better promote our business model. I firmly believe in the necessity to build a 'plural' economy, based on an effective public sector, a well regulated private sector (corporations) and a strong cooperative sector." 

The president of the ICA, Dame Pauline Green, sees this as a key moment to declare the global cooperative movement's intention to take the growth of the sector to a whole new level, leveraging from the momentum gained during this United nations International Year of Co-operatives. "Let me be very clear, from this time we are only going in one direction - forward with renewed energy, impetus and a sense of purpose because the world needs a new economic paradigm and we offer that solution." Dr Colin Dodds, president and vice chancellor at Saint Mary's University, also wishes to see the Summit create conditions conductive to new initiatives. "The reflection process must give rise to action and our education sector has a key role in raising the awareness of the global economic and societal contributions of the cooperative movement."

A unique program

Over the next three days, participants will discuss many topics pertaining to every sector of economic activity. In so doing, they will benefit from the input of renowned speakers including:

- Mrs Madeleine K. Albright, former US Secretary of State (1997-2001) and president of the Albright Stoneridge Group
- Mr. A. Michael Spence, Nobel prize in Economic Sciences (2001)
- Mr. Jacques Attali, economist, writer, and director of PlaNet Finance
- Mrs Rosabeth Moss Kanter, professor at Harvard Business School
- Mr. Dominic Barton, Global Managing Director, McKinsey & Company
- Mr. Carlo Borzaga, president, Euricse
- Mr. Rüdiger Krech, director of the Department of Ethics, World Health Organization
- Mrs Huguette Labelle, Chair of the Board, Transparency International
- Mr. Peter Marks, Chief Executive, The Co-operative Group
- Mr. Riccardo Petrella, economist, political scientist and alter-globalist
- Mr. Michael Sabia, President and CEO, Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec
- Mr. Felice Scalvini, Vice-president, ICA

The 2012 International Summit of Cooperatives will also be marked by the unveiling of groundbreaking studies on the cooperative business model and such diverse issues as productivity, the best organizational practices, and different strategies for the development of the cooperative model throughout the world. These studies were carried out by well-known national and international organizations: McKinsey & Company, Deloitte, Ernst & Young, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Oliver Wyman, Ipsos/UQÀM and the University of Sherbrooke.

The first day of the Summit will set the tone for the event, with the participation of world-renowned economist, political scientist and alterglobalist, Mr. Riccardo Petrella, who will deliver the Summit's opening address. Quebec Premier Pauline Marois, the federal minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, the Honourable Denis Lebel, as well as the mayor of Quebec City, Mr. Régis Labeaume, will be among the personalities attending the opening ceremony.

Tomorrow's leaders
In addition to the many activities on the program and the 25 complementary events held parallel with the official program, the 2012 International Summit of Cooperatives allocates an important place to the succession through its Future Cooperative Leaders program. Thus, more than 170 cooperators from every continent, between the ages of 20 and 35, will converge on Quebec City to share their common passion: the desire to promote and foster the development of the cooperative model in their country of origin. They will extend their network of peers and rub shoulders with influential players in the cooperative world, who will be a source of inspiration and knowledge enriching their personal and professional journey.

Closing declaration
Finally, the event as a whole will close with the release of a closing statement in which delegates will set forth the major issues facing the cooperative model and the preferred avenues for response.

Summit site: www.2012intlsummit.coop
Twitter:  Summitcoop2012
UN's IYC site: 2012 International Year of Cooperatives  
Pre-Summit Event site: Imagine 2012

SOURCE: 2012 INTERNATIONAL SUMMIT OF COOPERATIVES

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Nathalie Genest: 418-649-5238
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