(Murcia, May 8, 2012) - The president of the Spanish Business Confederation of Social Economy (CEPES), Juan Antonio Pedroza, took the slogan created by the United Nations International Year of Cooperatives,"Cooperative enterprises help build a better world", to open this morning on the day Murcia 'Cooperative Company Actor of Social Economy and Social Development in the Mediterranean'.
A day that is organized by CEPES and the Euro-Mediterranean Social Economy (ESMED), and has the support of the Spanish Agency for International Development (AECID), the Regional Government of Murcia; University of Murcia and Ucomur.
By holding this event is to raise the profile of this way of doing business in society in order to contribute to enhancing the dialogue of the social economy with public authorities and to influence in a more noticeable in the policies implemented since those powers.
The conference also aims to identify measures that promote the growth of cooperatives in this geographical area, in addition to helping governments in the region to implement new measures to support cooperatives.
The opening was also attended by the President of the Region of Murcia, Ramón Luis Valcárcel, the rector of the University of Murcia, Jose Antonio Cobacho, the Minister for Education, Training and Employment of the Autonomous Community of Murcia, Constantine Sotocaand a large group of deputies from the Socialist People groups of the Regional Assembly of Murcia.
Pedroza said at the opening ceremony that "this celebration is a recognition by the entire international community that the cooperative model is one of the most important economic engines to overcome this time of recession for its ability to create and maintain employment."
The head of the Employers of Social Economy has also used the opening ceremony to declare that "the International Year of Cooperatives is a great opportunity to demonstrate to society that there is a business model based on the values "?"?of mutual aid; responsibility, democracy, equalityequity and solidarity. " "We have before us a unique opportunity, to show that the cooperative is a global phenomenon," he added.
CEPES President said that this business model is an undeniable reality in Europe and the Southern Mediterranean countries, where more than 200. 000 cooperatives, which consist of 136 million members and 6,300,000 workers.
The conference continues a series of initiatives to enhance ESMED Network model of doing business in the Social Economy in the Euro-Mediterranean basin, which has as main objective the reduction of inequalities in the area.
Jose Antonio Cobacho, has revealed in his speech the important Convention and CEPES CRUE signed two weeks ago to incorporate entrepreneurship at the University of Social Economy from formulas.
Fernando de la Fuente has called in his speech to the Network ESMED to submit projects to enhance the business model in the Mediterranean.
The opening ceremony ended with the words of the President of the Region of Murcia, Ramon Luis Valcarcel, who has value to the role of cooperatives and social economy in these times of crisis, adding that represent a point of light to fight adversity in these difficult times. Murcia is located in2010 and 2011 at the forefront nationally in creating cooperatives and jobs.
More information on CEPES
CEPES is the largest institution representing the Social Economy in Spain, becoming 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 more than 200 structuresregional, national or regional organizations are and business groups representing the interests of Cooperatives, Labour, Mutual, Business Integration, Special Employment Centres, industry associations of disability and Guilds of fishermen.
