Documents

Aim of the Ministerial Conference

...The growth of the co-operative movement all over the world is phenomenal given the volume of business and patronage. I am informed that there are nearly one (1) billion co-operative members globally who are involved in various economic activities. In Kenya, there are over 8.5 million members who have mobilised an asset base of about Kshs 200 billion ($2.7 billion US Dollars). However, when looking at the African continent, the percentage of co-operative membership is less than 10% of the world’s population. This ratio needs to be increased as there are more people in the African continent living below $1 a day than elsewhere on the globe. This segment of the people can be mobilised to engage in some economic activities through a co-operative enterprise. African Co-operative leaders and governments will need to redouble their efforts in order to improve the situation... (read full speech (pdf) > > > )

...As you are aware, co-operatives play a critical role in our national economies through involvement of its membership in resource mobilisation, prudent utilisation of the resources and social integration. However, this role has often not been fully appreciated. We need therefore to ensure that this perception is changed and co-operatives take their rightful position. We shall have to work extra hard to ensure that the co-operative agenda and model get its due recognition in our respective countries and governments...

...During this conference a number of resolutions and recommendations will be made for implementation by our governments in order to move the co-operative performance to the next level of development. I wish to urge all participants to freely contribute to the deliberations and to endeavour to implement the resolutions. It is important that this forum considers recommendations made by our technical arm positively. The Ministers, by endorsing their reports, will therefore commit their respective governments. This demonstrates the importance of this conference to the development of the co-operative movement in Africa... (read full speech (pdf) > > >)