CICOPA

Until now, it is only marginally that cooperatives involved in industry and services have been cooperating at the international level in the fields of common entrepreneurial projects, exchange of information and skills, joint application to international tenders, etc.

We are among many who now want to change that, and to help in that process. CICOPA and CECOP CICOPA-Europe are collaborating in the design of a new website aimed to be an international instrument in the hands of the enterprises that are part of our European and world network.

A French construction cooperative wishing to learn about an international public works tender in Germany may want to find construction cooperatives in Italy, Germany and Poland in order to establish a temporary consortium and apply for the tender. A new Polish cooperative established to manage a hospital could be interested in getting some technical and management know-how from one of the dozens of Italian cooperatives involved in hospital activities. A Spanish metal industry cooperative may have an interest in making a product in Brazil with a cooperative from Sao Paulo operating in the same sector. A Canadian cooperative in graphics could be interested to work together with an Argentinean consortium in the graphic industry. A Romanian cooperative producing garments could be interested in working together with a Shanghaiese one. A Japanese tour operator cooperative could be willing to contact some of the many tourism cooperatives in Europe to organise tours to Europe.

The possibilities are endless. Under globalisation, and in times of crisis, the need for many cooperatives to reach out to the international network of enterprises, which we represent, is on the agenda. COOPSPACE is meant to help them do that.

The website is presently in construction. It will be divided by sectors and sub-sectors according to the international ISIC/NACE classification system. On each sectoral page, the user will be able to see how many cooperatives in that sector or sub-sector exists within our enterprise network, and in which countries of the world. The user will also be able to restrict his/her search to a specific country or world region. He/she will be able to post an announcement or a request to cooperatives belonging to the corresponding sector in a specific country or group of countries.

The website will be exclusively dedicated to CICOPA and CECOP’s direct or indirect members (cooperative confederation, federations, enterprises, support organisations etc). For more information, please write to cicopa@cicopa.coop.