The fifth annual National Cooperative Exhibition, Bazaar & Symposium set out to strengthen the past achievements and success of co-operative unions, led by government development body the Federal Cooperative Agency.
By Miles Hadfield (Co-operative News)
Ethiopia hosted its fifth annual National Cooperative Exhibition, Bazaar & Symposium earlier this month, under the theme “co-operatives for fairness”.
Held at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) conference center in Addis Ababa, the event set out to strengthen the past achievements and success of co-operative unions, led by government development body the Federal Cooperative Agency.
Its mission is to strengthen and facilitate the organization of co-operatives and build their capacity through developing their market share, improving their legal framework and creating co-operative associations that ensure member benefits.
“The Federal Cooperative Agency, through its participation in social development, has helped to build more than 200 projects in education, health, water, road and bridge building and other social developments,” Omar Surer, executive director of co-operative unions, told delegates.
“It has benefited more than 225,000 citizens and has created job opportunities for over 1.4 million citizens; with a special focus on women and youth.”
In his speech, reported on Ethiopia’s afro105fm, Mr Surer added that the federal co-operative agency is also working in different areas to increase the capacity of co-operative unions.
“The agency has designed four focus areas,” he said. “It is working diligently to build on the co-operative union’s implementation and execution capacity. This is expected to increase savings and income of its members to sustainably improve their lives and to tremendously increase the number of members.”
The movement in Ethiopia is being strengthened with the development of co-operative unions and associations. These provide farmers with agricultural inputs such as different chemicals and stronger crop varieties, help to avoid higher payments through market chain commissions, and providing timely, cost-effective market opportunities.
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