The seminar was opened by Apex president John Mallia who thanked all those who chose to attend this seminar and then handed over to Apex secretary general, Angelo Azzopardi who read the annual message from the International Alliance of Co-operatives.

The speech dwelt on the various challenges the co-operative sector is facing today and focused on the impact of globalisation. Mr Azzopardi said there are over 800 million members in co-operatives all over the world and that one should remain steadfast and strong in the face of adversity and that the co-operative movement was here to stay and grow accordingly.

APEX chairman Mario Falzon dwelt on the various important tasks that co-operatives had to strengthen the social fabric and also mentioned four key points related to the growth of co-operatives. Mr Falzon mentioned the SCOOPS project in the educational sector that was a prime example of the success of the co-operative system.

Mr Falzon had stern words for those co-operatives who were defaulting on their responsibilities and referred to the problem of ‘good governance’ that was not always prevalent in the co-operative consultative system. He warned that even those who resigned from their post still had responsibilities in the eyes of the law. Concluding, Mr Falzon called on all the members to pull on the same rope so that co-operatives would continue to flourish and strengthen.

APEX president John Mallia said the main message to be learnt from the International Alliance Co-operative’s statement was a service to the global village with more and more opportunities. Mr Mallia insisted that through globalisation, the barriers of business were constantly falling and the world was becoming one global village, citing the examples of the European Union and international access to capital.

Mr Mallia also mentioned the technological revolution such as e-mail and the Internet which has made the world more accessible. Global multinational companies were also important players in the economic scene and all co-operative members should be aware of the challenges that lie ahead, he said Mallia.

Mr Mallia dwelt at length on the injustice of globalisation mentioning the exploitation in the coffee trade and the eternal problem of illegal immigrants who were driven to desperate measures as they were being made destitute by rampant exploitation practiced by supposedly advanced countries. Concluding, Mr Mallia said that what was happening internationally was happening in Malta as well, especially with Malta’s entry into the European Union. Globalisation was here to stay, so it was important that everyone should accept this reality and work with that in mind. He stressed the importance of uniting all co-operatives to face the challenges of today and to make the venture a success.

Special guest Dame Pauline Green spoke about the enornmous impact co-operatives have all over the world, specifically because half of the world’s population is supported in one way or another by a co-operative. Dame Green also spoke about the impact of globalisation on co-operatives and that although some may view EU membership with skepticism, there were a number of significant opportunities for those who were ready to take them.

Dame Green mentioned the importance of nurturing local co-operatives together with the growth of regional and cross border co-operatives, and referred to the case of Co-op Nord where three Nordic countries have created a vast co-operative that sends a very powerful message which is also an indictment against globalisation. She urged leaders to have vision so that unity will be more prevalent, thus making the most out of the opportunities available.

Ms Green cited the British example where the government sold State industries to the private sector. She said the British Co-operative Association was working hard to keep services such as health and welfare in the hands of compassionate and public service-conscious co-operatives. She praised Malta’s initiative in co-operatives, commenting that the UK still lagged behind Malta in certain sectors such as women’s co-operatives, residential care for the elderly and other similar sectors. Dame Green gave several examples of successful co-operatives in the UK such as power and energy co-operatives, housing, football club trusts and several others which demonstrated the power of this movement which is a united voice and represents the voice of nearly all sectors.

Dame Green emphasised the importance of putting pressure on the Maltese MEPs so that the co-operative’s voice is heard in the European Parliament. In her conclusion, Dame Green said the co-operative movement is strong and healthy and everyone must rise to the challenge of globalisation through a united movement which was crucial for success.

The main points raised in the discussion from the floor were negative impressions of co-operatives and the possibility of women beecoming more involved in the co-op environment. The issues of global co-operation and more exploitation of the resources provided by the EU were also discussed.

Shadow Minister for Co-operatives, Joe Abela also sent a message to the seminar which was read out. It dwelt on the issue of globalisation in keeping with the theme of the activity.

In the concluding address, Dr Galea welcomed Madame Green on the occasion of International Co-operative Day, praising her vast experience in the field of co-operatives. Dr Galea also remarked on the substantial presence of women in the audience and that this presence augured well for the continued success and growth of the co-operative movement.

The Minister spoke about the importance of the International Co-operative Society and its influence on the International Labour Organization together with the impact of globalisation which was the theme of this seminar. Dr Galea referred to a report on globalisation and said that this phenomenon should first start on a local level. He said that many problems still have to be solved on the national front and this exercise should bring Malta up to date to face the challenges of globalisation.

Dr Galea mentioned sustainable development and the digital divide as two of the most important issues to solve in today’s age. He referred to an important document that is about to be published on a national plan for employment that was one of the most crucial sectors for the local economy. The Minister said co-operatives were an important part of this strategy and the antiquated stigma currently attached to the co-operative sector should be removed.

Dr Galea called for a review of the laws with regard to co-operatives and said that the mechanism should ensure that abuses were immediately rooted out and handled in a professional manner. Concluding, the Minister said that much still remains much to be done with regard to the SCOOPS project and said that the government should explore avenues which will enhance the strength of co-operatives while increasing the level of research and evaluation so that the weak points can be identified for a better and more successful future for the co-operatives.