Azerbaijan, Baku / Trend corr E.Huseynli /With over 800 million member-owners worldwide, cooperatives provide an estimated 100 million jobs. And they are key partners in collective efforts to reach the Millennium Development Goals, the UN Azerbaijani resident representation announced.
Highly successful cooperatives are able to expand their businesses without compromising the interest of their members or communities. Cooperative banks, through microfinance services, support disadvantaged segments of the population, by providing needed loans to start micro-enterprises. Many cooperatives provide health, social and educational services and promote employment for marginalized groups, such as persons with disabilities.
International Cooperatives Day is celebrated every year on 7th of July.