Posted: Monday, July 7, 2025. 9:33 am CST.
Press Release
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security, and Enterprise announces that the Department of Co-operatives, with responsibility for the development, support, and regulation of co-operatives, today facilitated a Forum for Co-operative Leaders. The forum was convened on the occasion of the International Day of Co-operatives (Coops Day), which will be celebrated globally on Saturday, July 4, 2025, and the International Year of Co-operatives 2025 (IYC2025).
The aim of Coops Day, with the theme Cooperatives: Driving Inclusive and Sustainable Solutions for a Better World is to increase public awareness of co-operatives and promote the movement’s ideas of international solidarity, economic efficiency, equality, and world peace. It is the flagship moment within IYC2025.
In June 2024, the United Nations declared 2025 as the International Year of Cooperatives, with the theme “Cooperatives Build a Better World.” This global initiative recognizes the critical role cooperatives play in advancing sustainable development and has the following objectives:
- Raise awareness about the impact and potential of cooperatives globally.
- Encourage governments, private sectors, and civil society to support cooperative initiatives.
3 Showcase success stories and innovations in cooperative models.
- Promote policies and practices that enable cooperatives to thrive.
- Inspire leadership.
It is with consideration for these aims and objectives that the forum was convened. Participants included representatives from co-operatives across the country and in the various industry sectors. Addressing the forum were Hon. Jose A. Mai, Minister of Agriculture, Food Security, & Enterprise with responsibility for co-operatives, Mr. Gareth Murillo, Registrar of Co-operatives, and welcome remarks were made by Ms. Kaya Cattouse, Councilor, Belize City Council. Presentations were made by Dra. Ana Touza, FAO Regional Representative for Bahamas, Belize, and Jamaica, Mr. Juan Moreno, President, PROCASUR, Mr. Sheldon Salino, Deputy Director of Academic Affairs, Cipriani College of Labour and Co-operative Studies, Mr. Ishmael Quiroz, Executive Director, BELTRAIDE, Mr. Frantz Smith, Policy Officer, Investment and Policy Compliance Unit, Ministry of Finance,
Mr. Wilfred Usher Jr., Belize City Branch Manager, DFC, Dr. Stephen Williams of the Inter-American Institute for Agriculture (IICA), and Ms. Debbie Alfaro, Project Manager, Sustainable and Inclusive Belize Project.
During the event, Dra. Touza, FAO Regional Representative, also handed over to Minister Mai equipment to be used by the Ministry for data gathering and digital services.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security, and Enterprise and the Department of Co-operatives anticipate that the forum will serve to generate interest and discussion and stimulate initiatives that will further support co-operative growth and development.
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The post Forum for Co-operative Leaders Held in Commemoration of International Day of Cooperatives 2025 appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
Posted: Monday, July 7, 2025. 9:33 am CST. Press Release The Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security, and Enterprise announces that the Department of Co-operatives, with responsibility
The post Forum for Co-operative Leaders Held in Commemoration of International Day of Cooperatives 2025 appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
