(Murcia, May 7, 2012). - The Region of Murcia will become tomorrow, 8, at the epicenter of cooperative Europe, Africa and Asia. The Hotel will host the day Nelva'Cooperative Company Actor of Social Economy and Social Development in the Mediterranean', bringing together delegations from eight countries in the southern basin of 'Mare Nostrum' (Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestinian Territories, Tunisia and Turkey), along with representatives from Spain, France, Portugal, Italy and the European Union.
Juan Antonio Pedroza, president of CEPES and UCOMURreported that all these countries represent a total of 200,217 of these cooperative ventures between Europe (including Turkey) and southern Mediterranean countries, which generate 6,294,630 jobs and associated with more than 136 million people. Spain contributes to these figures with over 22,000 entities 5,561,754 1,450,635 members and jobs. The Region of Murcia hasabout 1,600 cooperatives and over 70,000 employees, taking into account the uses of the agricultural sector.
Over 150 people have registered for the event has been organized by theSpanish Business Confederation of Social Economy (CEPES) and members of the Euro-Mediterranean Social Economy (ESMED), with support from the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECI) and the collaboration of the regional government, the University of Murcia and Ucomur.
President and Ucomur CEPES, Juan Antonio Pedroza, has been in charge this morning to present day, along withMinister of Universities and Research Company, José Ballesta, and the rector of the University of Murcia (UMU), Jose Antonio Cobacho.
Pedreño explained that the aim is to show the importance of cooperatives in the economic and social development of the Mediterranean,taking advantage of the UN declaration of 2012 as International Year of Cooperatives and identify priorities for work to support the development of these enterprises in the countries of the region, to facilitate access to credit and promote internationalization.
President Ucomur Cepes and stressed that, in Spain, the rate of job destruction and firms in the sector is six points behind the rest, "because they bet on flexibility, wage moderation and reinvestment of profits" .
Also referred to the importance of cooperatives in the Region of Murcia, in 2010 and 2011 was placed in the top positions nationally in terms of creation of these companies and maintains a number of jobs similar to those of 2007 when the economic crisis began.
The counselor Crossbowpraised the "spectacular growth" in the number of cooperatives in recent years and stressed the stability and the values "?"?they bring to the labor market, since "it puts a person above the capital." Thus, today announced that the Law of Entrepreneurship to be launched include the regional government, "prominently" these businesses.
The rector of the University of Murcia, meanwhile, stressed the need for universities to be involved in the development of cooperation. Thus, recalled the agreement signed recently between CEPES and the Conference of Rectors (CRUE)to encourage the entrepreneurial spirit of the social economy in the usual academic activities of universities. "It is an agreement to sensitize students about the values "?"?of entrepreneurship and tell them that there is a way, the cooperative, to find work," said.
The president of the Community, Ramón Luis Valcárcel, will be responsible for the opening tomorrow at 9.30 pm, together withproject director of finance and business development of the Secretariat of the Union for the Mediterranean (UPM), Fernando de la Fuente, Jose Antonio and Juan Antonio Pedroza Cobacho. Are expected to attend throughout the day from a wide representation of the Assembly and the regional government and representatives of the social economy and national Murcia
Lectures and panel discussions will focus on developing policy proposals to strengthen economic and social cooperation among the countries of northern and southern Mediterranean. It will also address the keys to promoting the development of cooperatives in the area, strengthen their representative organizations and implementdevelopment policies, taking as reference the experiences of programs to support the social economy of the Region of Murcia.
The closing, scheduled for 17 am, in the presence ofCEO of Self-Employment, Social Economy and Social Responsibility of Enterprises of the Ministry of Employment and Social Security, Miguel Angel Garcia, and the Minister for Education, Training and Employment, Constantine Sotoca.
CEPES is the largest institution representing the Social Economy in Spainestablishing itself as a platform for institutional dialogue with the authorities. Its 29 members represent the interests of 45,093 businesses represented 12.5% "?"?of employment and with a turnover exceeding 10% of GDP. Its members, with over 200 regional structures are national or regional organizations and business groups representing the interests of CooperativesIndustrial Societies, Mutual, Business Integration, Special Employment Centres, industry associations of disability and Guilds of fishermen.
