• CEPES, Cooperativa de las Américas, CICOPA América and AMA submit a manifesto to help build a prosperous, inclusive and sustainable Ibero-America through the promotion of the Social Economy.
• In Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Spain and the Dominican Republic there are more than 73,000 companies and social economy entities that generate 3 million direct and indirect jobs.
Madrid, November 16, 2018. - The main Ibero-American Social Economy entities are calling on the Ibero-American Summit of Heads of State and Government held in Guatemala to increase cooperation between Latin America, Portugal and Spain to promote and develop this business sector.
For this reason, the Spanish Business Confederation of the Social Economy (CEPES), the 'Cooperatives of the Americas' (which represents all cooperatives in Latin America and the Caribbean), the International Organization of Cooperatives in Industry and Services ( CICOPA América) and the Alliance of Mutualism of America (AMA) have sent a manifesto to the 22 governments participating in the Guatemala Summit to sign a "specific initiative on Social Economy" that will help build a "prosperous, inclusive and sustainable Latin America "
These organizations urge the 22 countries participating in the Summit to "incorporate these companies in their debates and activities by launching a specific initiative to increase cooperation between Latin America, Portugal and Spain in the field of social economy."
Juan Antonio Pedreño , president of CEPES, recalls that: "the social economy constitutes an indisputable socioeconomic reality in the Ibero-American Community, with companies and entities of all sizes, from SMEs to large business groups, present in all sectors of activity".
An example of this weight and importance is highlighted by the fact that taking into consideration only the reality of the social economy in six countries of the region ( Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Spain and the Dominican Republic) covers more than 73,000 companies and entities that generate 3 million direct and indirect jobs and that associate more than 47 million people . Likewise, the social economy is a key player in the sustainable development of Latin America.
For this reason, the signatory entities "ask the Heads of State and Government for the implementation of a specific initiative that promotes Ibero-American cooperation in the field of social economy , in order to promote development environments for these companies and entities that must play a central role in the fulfillment of the 2030 Agenda in Ibero-America ".
In addition, Pedreño notes that "the Inter-Agency Working Group of the United Nations on Social and Solidarity Economy , along with 18 other United Nations Agencies, has emphasized that the social economy can play a key role in the realization of the 2030 Agenda and the SDG through the promotion of an inclusive and sustainable development through innovations and concrete social, institutional and technological practices ".
For the signatory organizations, the constitution of a work and cooperation space between the governments of the Ibero-American Community, promoted and piloted by the Ibero-American General Secretariat (SEGIB), with the participation of representative organizations of cooperatives and the social economy, is a fundamental factor for the establishment of a common work agenda of this business modelto the.
They also remember that the Social Economy places the person at the center of economic activity, where inclusion, participation and fair and sustainable growth go hand in hand, while at the same time serving the needs of the territory, it gives answers to global challenges; that promotes and creates quality employment that reduces inequalities and generates opportunities for all people, and that fosters competitiveness and business development, providing technological solutions and social innovations for and by people.
