The VII International Cooperative Congress of the Federation of Cooperatives of the Northeast Region (FECOOPNORDESTE) concluded on August 9 in Punta Cana, consolidating the idea that intercooperation is the key to facing the economic, technological, and social challenges that the movement faces in Latin America and the Caribbean.
A vision of strategic alliances
During the meeting, which was attended by leaders from the Dominican Republic, Brazil, Colombia, Honduras, Puerto Rico, and other countries, the participants highlighted the importance of creating collaboration networks between cooperatives. The president of FECOOPNORDESTE, David Polanco, emphasized that the growth of the sector will depend increasingly on the ability of organizations to create networks, share services, and take advantage of the strengths of each entity. “There is no cooperative that has arrived alone this far. There are networks that have decided to walk together”, Polanco stated during the opening of the congress.
International models and shared experiences
The congress, under the slogan “Intercooperate is the key: networks, circuits, and cooperative future”, presented experiences from different countries. One of the most outstanding cases was the Brazilian model of Sicredi, a system of financial cooperatives that operates through mechanisms of collaboration and shared governance. Mario Gustavo Aquino, director of Supervision of the Central of Sicredi, explained the process of integration between cooperatives and how the circuit allows sharing resources and generating innovation.
Additionally, cases from the Coopcentral Network of Colombia, the Federation of Cooperatives of Savings and Credit of Honduras (FACACH) and the cooperative movement of Puerto Rico were shared. The international panels addressed topics such as intelligent management, sustainability, and the development of joint projects.
A seat that promotes integration
The executive director of FECOOPNORDESTE, Benito Vásquez, announced the opening of a new seat of the organization, destined to strengthen integration, cooperative education, and the development of projects between the federated entities. The new seat will be located in the Convention Center of the Barceló Bávaro Hotel and aims to be a meeting point for the dissemination of good practices and the formation of strategic alliances.
Social and economic impact in the communities
The participants agreed that intercooperation must go beyond institutional support and become a way to generate knowledge, promote innovation, and improve the sustainability of the movement. The collaboration between cooperatives, according to Polanco, not only increases the economic impact of the sector, but also strengthens the ability to respond to social and technological challenges that affect the communities in which they operate.
Conclusions and next steps
The congress concluded with the promise that the discussions and alliances born during the meeting will be translated into concrete projects. Polanco assured that the cooperative sector will seek to concretize initiatives that benefit the communities and reinforce cooperation between entities in the region.
Credits: deultimominuto.com
