THE 10th United Nations International Day of Cooperatives was
commemorated in Myanmar at Yangon University’s Diamond Jubilee
Hall on July 3.
This year’s global theme – chosen by the Geneva,
Switzerland-based International Cooperative Alliance – was
‘Cooperatives for fair globalisation, creating opportunities
for all’.
A statement from the Minister of Cooperatives, Major-General
Htay Oo, was read at the ceremony by Colonel Soe Win, the director-general
of Cooperative Department.
“The cooperative movement in Myanmar started in January
1905 with the establishment of the Myin Mu Cooperative savings
and loan association in Sagaing Division, so next year we will
celebrate a century of cooperatives,” said the statement.
The government enacted a law in 1992 to promote the extension
of cooperative associations to all areas of the country, the statement
said.
“So far in 2004, we have opened 17,887 new cooperative
associations dedicated to supporting economic development in rural
regions throughout Myanmar,” it said.
“Rural development is the highest priority of the Ministry
of Cooperatives.”
