Pretoria - South Africa and the government of Netherlands have been working together to identify areas for collaboration in the area of co-operatives development, says Small Business Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu.
“Working with the Netherlands on joint ventures and partnerships as well as sharing best practices will assist us greatly in unlocking the true potential of our co-operatives,” Minister Zulu said.
Speaking on Wednesday at a Co-operatives Seminar, in Pretoria, she said the two governments had been working on strengthening its bilateral cooperation for the past two years.
“The sharing of experiences and joint ventures’ opportunities will positively contribute to the development of our small scale co-operatives,” the Minister said.
She said a large number of co-operatives in the country were small and vulnerable.
“It is, therefore, important for us to review and design our support interventions in a manner that will improve the sustainability of our small co-operatives to unlock their economic and social potential,” she said.
Government has amended the Co-operatives Act to address legislative challenges and to reduce the cost of doing business for especially small scale co-operatives.
“The South African government has identified co-operatives as one of the central pivots to reduce poverty, unemployment and high levels of inequality and accelerate empowerment and development for the benefit of especially the previously disadvantaged majority,” Minister Zulu said.
The Co-operatives Seminar was held under the theme “Support interventions to place co-operatives development on a higher growth path”.
The objective of the seminar was to allow players in the area of co-operatives development the opportunity to exchange views with international experts and to agree on areas to further bilateral cooperation with the Netherlands on the development and growth of co-operatives in South Africa.
The seminar will also look at case studies on successful co-operatives, particularly in social entrepreneurship, co-operative financial institutions and commercial agricultural co-operatives.
“This seminar paves the way for our two governments to agree on a work plan mutual benefit in the area of co-operatives development which will form the basis for memorandum of understanding for consideration by our two countries to strengthen the existing declaration of intent signed in 2005,” she said. – SAnews.gov.za
