ADDIS ABABA – Consumers Cooperatives across the nation are striving to address the high cost of living through supplying consumer goods on affordable prices, according to Federal Cooperatives Agency (FCA).
Briefing the media in connection with the 97th International Day of Cooperatives to be markeda on July 6, 2019, FCA Director General Usman Surur said currently there are more than 88,000 primary cooperatives, 388 cooperative unions, and three cooperative federations with nearly 20.5 million members and a total capital of birr 24 billion.
The cooperative sector has created employment opportunities for over 1.5 million citizens on permanent and temporary basis especially for women and youths.
According to him now a days in most of urban areas are suffering from high cost of living. In order to control these problems cooperatives play vital role.
On the other hand balancing demand and supply and widening the network of infrastructural facilities that link cooperatives and product areas needs due attention to further enhance development and control inflation and related problems. “Cooperative provides sustainable livelihoods to its members particularly and to the rest of Ethiopians in general provide a number of direct and indirect benefits” Usman Stressed.
“For Ethiopia the challenge of ensuring socio-economic justice and sustainable peace is enhanced and protected for the benefit of future generations via cooperative sector cannot be underestimated”, said Usman.
This year’s Cooperatives Day will be observed under the theme “Coops for Decent Work” and the 11thNational Day in Ethiopia will be celebrated from June 7 – 8, 2019 at Harari National Regional State, Harar city with the theme “Cooperatives for Socio Economic Justice and Sustainable Peace”.
Cooperatives day is an annual opportunity to highlight how cooperatives can and have contributed to social and economic development and building resilience in the country.
The Ethiopian Herald June 1/2019
BY HAILE DEMEKE
