An action plan for cooperatives has been launched at a consultation meeting between representatives of various cooperatives and the parliamentary secretary for small business and the self-employed, Edwin Vassallo, who told them that the government was committed to helping more businesses consider the advantages of joining or forming a cooperative.

The action plan is the result of a national conference held earlier this year, when a SWOT analysis on cooperatives was carried out. Research into the results of that analysis led to the action plan that has been launched.

Despite frequent misconceptions, the Cooperatives Movement was not weak, and had a number of strengths which, if exploited, could turn the movement into a powerful social and economic factor, as has happened in many European and other countries, said Mr Vassallo.

In fact, he added, statistics about the movement showed it to be strong, varied and dynamic. The Cooperatives Movement produces a turnover of over Lm25 million (EUR58 million).

Cooperative societies have been in existence in Malta since 1947. The first to be formed were agricultural ones, followed by the fishing co-operative. Today, there are 59 cooperatives that cover a vast cross-section of local economic activity, from agriculture and fishing to financial services.

Mr Vassallo said that although cooperatives were becoming stronger, there were still a number of issues that needed attention. In fact, the report published after the conference included a list of all the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, and the secretariat has worked closely with the movement in order to prepare the action plan that listed 13 main points that needed to be addressed.