Manchester set to welcome the world for close of IYC

International Co-operative Alliance President Dame Pauline Green has saluted the Movement’s response to the 2012 International Year of Co-operatives and says there’s no better place than Greater Manchester for the IYC celebrations to come to an end.

As thousands of co-operators from all parts of the world prepared to head for the city and nearby Rochdale — the designated World Capital of Co-operatives — for the massive Co-operatives United festival, the former Co-operatives UK Chief Executive told the News: “Our Movement has truly embraced this once-in-a-generation opportunity.”

Said Dame Pauline: “Since the United Nations declared 2012 as the International Year of Co-operatives, I have had the privilege at first-hand to see co-operatives around the globe raising public awareness of our people-centred model of business.

“We have used the Year to make the case for a more diversified global economy in response to the international financial crisis and failing public trust in the broken economy. We want to put people at the centre of economic decision making and not at its mercy.”

Added Dame Pauline: “It is my great pleasure to welcome the many delegates and visitors to Co-operatives United and I can think of no better place for the ICA to close the International Year of Co-operatives than in Manchester and Rochdale – the birthplace of the global co-operative movement and the World Capital of Co-operatives.”

Co-operatives United Interactive, will present live coverage from the whole of the event, which includes live video streams, video-on-demand, blogs and photography.

Len Wardle, Chair of the Manchester-based Co-operative Group, also welcomed delegates to what he called “the largest-ever gathering of co-operative businesses from around the world”.

He said: “The ICA chose Manchester as the venue for the 2012 global expo during this momentous International Year because the world's co-operative sector began in Rochdale in Greater Manchester. I’m looking forward to meeting fellow co-operators from around the world and discussing not only the success of the International Year, but how we build on this success to develop and grow the co-operative economy over the next ten or 20 years.”

David Button, Chair of Co-operatives UK, added: “Co-operatives United will be a proud moment for the UK co-operative sector. The sheer size of the worldwide movement is humbling and I look forward to seeing co-operatives from over 50 countries gather for what will be the first time so many international co-operatives have come together in the UK.

“It will be a fantastic event with global conferences, hundreds of workshops, an inspiring exhibition, tours to the new-look Rochdale Pioneers Museum and the Co-operative Group’s new head office – and people from all corners of the UK and the globe.”