National Cooperatives and SMEs Fair, 6 and 7 July

This initiative rise within the framework of the centenary celebrations of the cooperative movement in Mauritius as well as the 91st International Day of Cooperatives of the International Cooperative and 19th International Day proclaimed by the United Nations Cooperatives Alliance. The opening of the fair will be held Saturday, July 6, 2013 at the Auditorium Octave Wiehe in Reduit.

Participants will include cooperative societies of Mauritius and Rodrigues, SMEs, the Agricultural Marketing Board and the State Trading Corporation and the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development. Various products will be sold, including vegetables, fruits, flowers, spices, handicrafts, jewelry, clothing and food. About 120 stalls will be built.

The theme chosen this year by the United Nations Cooperative, a company that is strong in times of crisis. The theme highlights the situation that have withstood the financial crisis that savings banks and credit companies. The number of companies has increased and remained stable in all regions of the world.

Day aims to raise public awareness about cooperatives and their contribution to the socio-economic development and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. It gives an opportunity not only to reflect on everything that cooperatives have achieved in favorable and less favorable times, but lets reiterate emphatically that this business model attracts more attention and support worldwide.

This year also marks the 100th anniversary of the cooperative movement in Mauritius. July 23, 1913, when the first cooperative society was registered in Mauritius, made history for many cooperatives. It is due to report MS Wilberforce recommended by the Royal Commission that the cooperative movement began in Mauritius.

The Cooperative Societies Ordinance, which responded primarily to the needs of coooperative cane, was passed in 1913 after Manilall Doctor had testified before the Royal Commission in 1909 and after the publication of the report Wilberforce, who had reported on the deplorable conditions of smallholders . For a century, the cooperative sector has contributed immensely to the development of many Mauritian families. Cooperatives work for the sustainable development of their communities through policies approved by their members.

About a hundred million people work for cooperatives worldwide. 20% of these companies are international entities, while more than one billion people are members of cooperatives. The United Nations had estimated that in 1994 improvements were noted at the lives of three billion people, half the world's population, through cooperatives.

Mauritius and Rodrigues are approximately 963 active cooperatives with 120,000 members generating a turnover of Rs 5 billion.