The World Council of the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) held one of its annual meetings in Punta Cana, which also brought together the Board of Directors of Cooperatives of the Americas.
During this day, the President of the Dominican Republic, Luis Abinader Corona, made an official visit. In his speech, President Abinader reaffirmed his commitment to the cooperative sector, highlighting the transformative power of cooperatives in reducing inequalities and fostering economic democracy in the country. He emphasized his government's support for cooperativism as a fundamental tool for development, highlighting its capacity to promote a more inclusive and sustainable economy, especially in areas such as access to financial services and decent employment.
For his part, the president of the International Cooperative Alliance, Ariel Guarco, underscored the importance of the International Year of Cooperatives 2025 and thanked President Abinader for his support of the cooperative movement and his efforts to position this model as a driver of change and development.
Likewise, the president of Cooperatives of the Americas, José Alves de Souza, highlighted the role governments play in promoting the cooperative model, as well as the importance of legal support through legislation and legal tools that guarantee the promotion and sustainability of the cooperative sector, particularly in key areas such as worker, consumer, care, and technology cooperatives.
The holding of this ICA Global Board meeting in the Dominican Republic highlights this country's strategic role as a promoter of the cooperative movement in the Americas, a sector that, at the national level, has proven to be an engine of development. With more than 2.200 registered cooperatives and nearly 2 million members, Dominican cooperatives continue to play a crucial role in financial inclusion and job creation in the country.
This gathering of global and regional leaders reaffirms the unity and strength of the cooperative movement, demonstrating that, in the face of present and future challenges, cooperation and collective commitment are essential tools for building a more equitable and sustainable world. In a context of accelerated change, cooperatives continue to represent a development model based on solidarity, inclusion, and collective well-being, promoting innovative and sustainable solutions that strengthen communities and generate opportunities for all.
The Dominican Republic was one of the sponsoring countries of United Nations General Assembly resolution 78/175, adopted on December 19, 2023, which welcomed the celebration of the International Year of Cooperatives.
In his speech, the president also emphasized that cooperatives provide access to financial services and decent employment to thousands of people in his country and millions worldwide, assuring that his government supports this model as a key tool for development. He also highlighted the creation of the National Committee for the International Year of Cooperatives, chaired by Maritza López de Ortiz, head of the Institute for Cooperative Development and Credit (IDECOOP), with the goal of coordinating, highlighting, and promoting activities throughout this important year.
