DILI, 03 june 2021 (TATOLI) – Secretary of State for Cooperatives (SECOOP) commemorates the International Day of Cooperatives 2021, with the theme “Rebuild Better Together.”
Secretary of State for Cooperatives (SECOOP), Elizário Ferreira in his opening remarks states that: “Cooperative sector is important to ensure community development and reduce poverty in Timor-Leste.”
“To celebrate this special day, we announce “United in the Fight Against Poverty” as Timor-Leste’s cooperatives motto for the year 2021-2023,” Ferreira made the comments in his opening remarks at commemoration of the International Day of Cooperatives, at Rudal OCA’s hall, in Dili, today.
Ferreira said there are 171 registered and active cooperatives in Timor-Leste, which accumulate 47.537 people with a total asset of US$ 11. 803.779,95.
He said after assuming a post as Secretary of State for Cooperatives, cooperatives had been established in 42 Administrative posts across the country.
Ferreira said in the last three months, SECOOP had facilitated training for 1634 people, including training for trainers and trainees.
He said SECOOP had signed MoU with a number of NGOs and institutions: “SECOOP had signed an agreement with UNDP on promoting training on cooperatives in rural areas. SECOOP also signed an agreement with the European Union (EU) on the Digitalization of Credit Cooperatives. In addition, SECOOP also signed a MoU with GIZ, World Vision, Peace Corps, UNTL, TIC, and the Embassy of Cuba, Brazil, and Thailand, in Timor-Leste to better improve cooperatives in the country.”
Ferreira emphasized that 75 percent of the population of Timor-Leste is young people, saying, therefore, involving and engaging rural young people in cooperative activities was a determinant factor to puss the rural development forward.
He said recently, SECOOP organized training for 200 Timorese young people from the rural villages: “These young people will become cooperative organizers and motivators in the villages to involve more rural communities into cooperative activities to solve poverty in the country, particularly in the rural areas.”
Ferreira added that cooperation is one of the ways to reduce the dependence of the communities on assistance and support from others.
SECOOP pledged to improve the existing cooperatives and establish more cooperatives in the few years coming.
“SECOOP’S policy is to ensure that in 2023, more than 600.000 people would be involved as cooperatives members, with a total asset of US$ 65 million, and every cooperative will produce US$1250 per month,” said Ferreira.
At the same place, the Coordinating Minister of Economic Affairs (MKAE), Joaquim Amaral said that cooperatives are important to strengthen Timor-Leste’s economic sector by enhancing productive sectors in the rural areas.
“Despite the current difficult situation, SECOOP always tried its best to cooperate with all parties to develop Timor-Leste’s cooperative sector by establishing cooperation with other parties. Such as, a cooperative department would be established by UNTL and SECOOP to provide education, innovation, training on cooperatives, which is important for those people who engage in cooperatives to adjust themselves to a new reality. For instance, now we enter the digitalization era. So, our cooperative organizers need to adapt and familiarize themselves with the latest technology to develop their cooperative activities to better improve the cooperative sector in Timor-Leste,” said Amaral.
A cooperative (“coop”) or co-operative is an autonomous association of persons who voluntarily cooperate for their mutual, social, economic, and cultural benefit.
The cooperative sector in Timor-Leste comprises the following branches: (a) production and work; (b) consumption; (c) trade; (d) agriculture; (e) credit; (f) housing and building; (g) factory production; (h) handicrafts; (i) fisheries; (j) culture; (k) services; (l) education; (m) social solidarity.
However, The United Nations’ (UN) International Day of Cooperatives is observed on the first saturday of july each year.
The aim of this celebration is to increase awareness about cooperatives by highlighting how the United Nations shares similar goals and objectives as the international cooperative movement.
This day aims to acknowledge the contributions of cooperatives to resolve some of the major international issues that have drawn the attention of the United Nations. The day also aims to strengthen and extend partnerships between the international cooperative movement and other outfits of social development.
Related news:SECOP – Embassy of Cuba will sign MoU to develop Timor-Leste’s cooperative
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Rafy Belo
