Kamer van Koophandel en Nijverheid Aruba | Chamber of Commerce and Industry Aruba

Aruba, November 2 2011 - The United Nations General Assembly has declared 2012 as the International Year of Cooperatives (IYC), highlighting the contribution of cooperatives to socio-economic development, particularly their impact on poverty reduction, employment generation and social integration. Yesterday, the United Nations General Assembly formally launched the Year in New York. with a message by the ILO's Director-General, Juan Somavia.

The Year aims at highlighting the contribution of cooperatives to socio-economic development, particularly their impact on poverty reduction, employment generation and social integration.
With the theme of “Cooperative Enterprises Build a Better World”, the Year seeks to encourage the growth and establishment of cooperatives all over the world. It also encourages individuals, communities and governments to recognize the agency of cooperatives in helping to achieve internationally agreed upon development goals, such as the Millennium Development Goals.

Please see below the links to pertinent information on the IYC, including an ILO video clip on Cooperatives.

Official website of the IYC
http://social.un.org/coopsyear/

Message by the ILO Director General, Juan Somavia, on the occasion of the launch of International Year of Cooperatives
http://www.ilo.org/global/about-the-ilo/press-and-media-centre/statements-and-speeches/WCMS_166406/lang--en/index.htm