100th COOPSDAY: Commemoration Ceremony held in Nay Pyi Taw

Myanmar observed the 100th anniversary of International Cooperative Day in Nay Pyi Taw on Saturday. Union Minister for Cooperatives and Development of Rural Areas U Hla Moe stressed the need to make cooperative efforts between the cooperative department and associations for long term development of the cooperative activities. 

The theme for this year’s Cooperative Day is “Cooperatives Build a Better World”.

The International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) was formed on 19th August 1895, and the International Cooperative Day has been held annually since 1923. Myanmar Central Cooperative Association joined the ICA in 1993. In 1995, the United Nations designated the first Saturday of July as the International Cooperative Day to promote the awareness on cooperative activities.

The cooperative associations have created job opportunities for over 12% of the world populations accounting for more than 280 million people. 

Myanmar enacted the Cooperative Societies Act in 1904, and MyinMu Cooperative Association was formed on 3rd January 1905. In 2021, the Ministry of Cooperative and Development of Rural Areas was formed and efforts are being made for thriving of cooperative activities in line with the new policies. 8 action plans have been laid down, and over 39,000 cooperative associations have been formed so far.