This week marked an important moments for the international cooperative family as our member FECOPROD (Federación de Cooperativas de Producción, Paraguay) celebrated its 50th Anniversary – a milestone of cooperative strength and resilience. On behalf of the IRU, Secretary General Andreas Kappes delivered a congratulatory speech, highlighting FECOPROD’s longstanding role within IRU since 1998 and its vital contribution to cooperative development in Latin America. In doing so, Andreas concluded that
“FECOPROD has shown that cooperatives are always part of the solution. By combining tradition with a future-oriented vision, it stands as a powerful example of how Raiffeisen’s principles continue to inspire and strengthen communities worldwide.” – Andreas Kappes, IRU Secretary General
The speech kicked-off the following international webinar hosted by FECOPROD on “Challenges of Cooperatives and Their Competitiveness in a Globalized World”, bringing together representatives from Europe and the Americas to share experiences and perspectives.
Key points discussed included:
- Youth & demographic change: keeping the cooperative model attractive for the next generation
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Product quality & consumer awareness: balancing sustainability and high standards with price sensitivity
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New market niches & innovation: digitalization, direct marketing, and stronger cooperative networks
- Reducing bureaucracy while navigating political and regulatory pressures
We were particularly pleased to welcome Tamara Elbl from the German cooperative Federation BWGV, who shared insights on the current challenges faced by cooperatives in Germany. Following her input, Gustav Sawatzky (Board Member of Bancop, Paraguay & IRU Board Member) followed up on the discussion, answering questions from participants and offering valuable perspectives from Paraguay.
A big thanks to all speakers and participants for this inspiring exchange. FECOPROD’s anniversary celebration once again demonstrated: international cooperation and innovation are key to strengthening cooperatives’ competitiveness worldwide.
Congratulations to FECOPROD on 50 Years of Successful Cooperative Cooperation!
