QUEBEC, February 19, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --

The cooperative movement plays a key role in the global economy, representing over a million businesses with a billion members employing 100 million workers. Despite their great resilience in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis, cooperatives are no strangers to financing, capitalization, innovation, efficiency, governance, training, and job retention challenges, as well as shifting demographics.

The 2014 International Summit of Cooperatives is the cooperative community's largest international business event. It aims to help cooperative and mutual businesses achieve their full potential. Just as in years past, this year's event will bring together managers, decision makers, and other key players from the cooperative and mutual movement to learn about the latest international studies and to discuss solutions to the problems they face. These studies serve as management tools to help boost performance.

The Summit also provides an opportunity for cooperative businesses to demonstrate their key role in solving two challenges faced by all of humankind: food security and health care accessibility. The Summit aims to further this role by welcoming a number of internationally recognized experts to début the results from more than twenty-five studies.

Study highlights:
Complete details on the studies are available at:
http://www.sommetinter.coop/cms/en_CA/home/edition-2014/etudes.html

• Topic: Food Security
  The Rise of the Rural Entrepreneur  - Book Update
  Author: Rabobank
  Synopsis: As the world population grows and lives longer, we rely on farmers to provide a sustainable food supply. But farmers everywhere face food production challenges that prevent them from producing more with fewer resources, being sustainable and using innovative technology. This study on "rural entrepreneurs" examines issues of succession, sustainability, supply chain, the search for solutions, and social media as a means of connecting farmers and consumers.
• Topic: Health and Social Care Services
  Banking for Health
  Author: World Health Organization (WHO)
  Synopsis: There is now global recognition of the relationship between macroeconomics, finance, and health. There is also considerable evidence demonstrating the detrimental impacts that financial crises and macroeconomic responses to address them can have on health equity and illness. By addressing the social determinants of health, there is significant potential for the banking sector to play an important role in improving health and social development, promoting universal health coverage, and reducing poverty and inequity. Cooperative banks in particular are well placed to benefit from such a role.
• Topic: Employment
  Unemployment affects over 200 million people. How can cooperatives make a difference?
  Author: CICOPA
  Synopsis: The Global Report on Cooperatives and Employment will present the status of employment in cooperatives around the world, through both quantitative and qualitative analysis. This enables us to estimate the number of jobs created or maintained by cooperatives, identify their specificities, discover the factors of sustainable and decent employment in cooperatives, and propose corresponding recommendations. The study examines ten regions in the world where cooperatives play a tangible role in employment.
• Topic: Economics, Financing and Capitalization
  Cracking the Organizational Code for Growth and Effectiveness in the Cooperative Banking and Mutual Insurance Sectors
  Author: Oliver Wyman
  Synopsis: To achieve sustainable growth, organizations from the finance and insurance sectors have centred their attention and focus on strategic questions. Nevertheless, organizational elements directly impact the ability of these entities to successfully implement their objectives. Oliver Wyman will share the results of a study that examines the organizational attributes evidenced in cooperative banks and mutual insurers and their level of performance, making it possible to identify, qualify, and quantify the best practices for achieving sustainable growth in these markets.
• Topic: Developing Cooperative and Mutual Enterprises
  Member Driven Strategies - Leveraging Cooperatives' Competitive Advantage
  Author: Bain & Company
  Synopsis: Cooperatives and mutuals are in a unique position to be leaders in delivering a superior member experience, yet few are realizing this opportunity. Our study will review the current state of member-centric strategies in the cooperative sector-highlighting successes, challenges, and opportunities. It will also outline the path forward for cooperatives to enhance their competitiveness by putting the member at the centre of everything they do.
• Topic: Developing Cooperative and Mutual Enterprises
  Disruptive Technologies: Advances that will Transform Life, Business, and the Global Economy
  Author: McKinsey & Company
  New technologies are appearing every day, and some will leave a lasting mark on our business and social landscapes. It is therefore critical that business and policy leaders understand which technologies will matter to them and prepare accordingly. Many new technologies are disintermediation human interactions from business interactions, putting one of the strongest pillars of the cooperative movement at risk. At the same time, however, technological shifts can enable new ways to engage members more deeply. This study examines twelve technologies set to shake up the market, as well as their inherent risks and opportunities and strategies for how to respond.
  

Quotes

"The calibre of the participants and studies to be unveiled at the International Summit of Cooperatives makes it a can't-miss event not only for cooperative actors, but also for the private sector and decision makers from around the world. The Summit has become the Davos for cooperatives and mutuals."
Monique F. Leroux, Desjardins Group, Chair of the Board, President and CEO and Summit Co-host

"The range of topics covered by the Summit is proof-positive that the cooperative and mutual model offers invaluable solutions to the world's social and economic challenges. The Summit provides fertile ground for growing the cooperative movement."
Dame Pauline Green, International Co-operative Alliance (ICA) President and Summit Co-host

Online registration for the 2014 International Summit of Cooperatives is now open.

Participants: http://www.sommetinter.coop/cms/en_CA/home/register.html
Journalists: http://www.sommetinter.coop/cms/en_CA/home/medias/accreditation.html

Follow us on:

• @IntlSummitCoop
• International Summit of Cooperatives
• International Summit of Cooperatives
  

About the 2014 International Summit of Cooperatives
Decision makers and influencers from the international cooperative and mutual community will gather in Quebec City, Canada, from October 6 to 9 for the 2014 International Summit of Cooperatives. The Summit's bold, ambitious themes will garner the attention and interest of cooperatives from around the globe as well as world leaders and politicians. http://www.intlsummit.coop

For further information:

Information (for journalists only) :
Vanessa Roland
Media Relations
International Summit of Cooperatives
TACT Intelligence-conseil
+ 1-514-667-0196, ext. 405
media@intlsummit.coop
Jan Schiettecatte
Director of Communications
International Co-operative Alliance
+32-2-285-00 76
schiettecatte@ica.coop

SOURCE 2014 International Summit of Cooperatives