H.E. Luis Abinader, President of the Dominican Republic, addressed a special session of the ICA Board Meeting in Punta Cana in April. He thanked the ICA for organising its Board meeting in the Dominican Republic during the UN International Year of Cooperatives, at a time of economic transformation for the country. He praised the ICA as the global guardian of the values and principles of cooperatives for 130 years.
He reaffirmed his government's commitment to supporting and promoting cooperatives, which he said are job creators and creators of social value through mutual help and social responsibility, making them the most appropriate tool for social transformation. "Cooperatives are fairer, more equitable and more sustainable enterprises," he added.
In line with the recommendations of the UN General Assembly resolution, the country has created a national committee comprising representatives of cooperatives, the government and the UN to implement the International Year.
He concluded by calling on young people and women to create and join more cooperatives.
ICA President Dr. Ariel Guarco, together with Mr. Jose Alves De Souza Neto, President of Cooperatives of the Americas, Dr. Petar Stefanov, President of Cooperatives Europe, and the Board members present, thanked H.E. Mr. Luis Abinader for his kind address to ICA.
Dr. Guarco invited Mr. Abinader to support the value of cooperatives for social justice and development during the Second World Summit for Social Development this November in Doha, Qatar.
Xiomara Nuñez De Cespedes, ICA Gender Representative and a national of the Dominican Republic, thanked Mr Abinadert on behalf of the national cooperative movement for his support of cooperatives at national and international level.
