Cooperation on agenda at Davos talks!

A first step in better positioning the cooperative model on the political and economic world stage was taken at the World Economic Forum (WEF) held in Davos, Switzerland, from January 25 to 29, 2012. Monique F. Leroux, Chair of the Board, President, and CEO of Desjardins Group, was invited to the WEF to participate in a roundtable discussion of the business model of the future. The event gave her an opportunity to promote the principles and advantages of the cooperative model. The forum convened this year under the theme of “The Great Transformation: Shaping New Models” and offered workshops on such themes as “Fixing Capitalism” and “Is 20th century capitalism failing 21st century society?” Representatives from 19 of the G20 countries, 2,600 political figures, including the Prime Minister of Canada and the Premier of Quebec, business people and scientists, as well as 40 heads of states and government officials participated in the event. Ms. Leroux also took advantage of this opportunity to promote the International Summit of Cooperatives, which is being co-hosted by Desjardins in Quebec City and Lévis next October. Founded in 1971, the World Economic Forum is an international organization that brings together the world’s top business and political leaders to discuss the planet’s major economic options.