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24 June 2008

The Department of Trade and Industry (the dti), in partnership with the South African Co-operatives Movement, will host a National Co-operatives Conference, which will culminate with the International Co-operatives Day celebrations at the Tshwane Events Centre (formerly Pretoria Show Grounds) from 30 June to 5 July 2008. The theme of the conference is "Towards an Integrated Co-operatives Movement in South Africa."

More than 2 500 delegates from the national and international co-operatives movements, as well as experts, academia and representatives from small and big business will attend the conference. Representatives from the three spheres of government, development financial institutions and labour will also attend.

The conference will be characterised mainly by interactive seminars and commissions on a variety of subjects affecting the development of co-operatives. These include co-operatives policy and legislation, the role and participation of women, youth and the disabled in co-operatives, as well as banking, insurance, funding, taxation and auditing of co-operatives.

The conference provides a platform for an exchange of ideas, lessons and experiences between the government and stakeholders from the co-operatives nationally and internationally. It will also expose co-operatives to a variety of funding, procurement, marketing and other opportunities, as well as create a platform for co-operatives, government and private sector to showcase their services and products as there will be 250 exhibition stalls outside the conference venue.

Issued by: Department of Trade and Industry
24 June 2008