Secretary-General’s Message on International Day of Cooperatives
秘書長國際合作社日致辭

6 July, 2013
2013年7月6日

We live in a time of global uncertainty. Multiple crises and natural disasters are testing even the most robust economies and communities. The International Day of Cooperatives is an annual opportunity to highlight how cooperatives can contribute to building resilience in all regions and all economic sectors.
我們生活在一個全球不確定的時代。多重危機和自然災(zāi)害正在考驗著哪怕是最強勁的經(jīng)濟和社區(qū)。一年一度的國際合作社日是一個突出強調(diào)合作社如何能為在所有區(qū)域和所有經(jīng)濟部門建立應(yīng)變能力作出貢獻的機會。

Over the course of the ongoing global financial and economic crises, financial cooperatives have proven their strength and resilience, benefitting members, employees and customers. They have maintained high credit ratings, increased assets and turnover, and expanded their membership and customer base. ?
在當(dāng)前全球金融和經(jīng)濟危機過程中，金融合作社已證明了其力量和應(yīng)變能力，使成員、員工和客戶獲得了利益。它們保持了很高的信用評級，增加了資產(chǎn)和營業(yè)額，并擴大了它們的成員和客戶基礎(chǔ)。

After disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis and floods, cooperatives have shown their ability to mobilize solidarity for reconstruction. Agricultural cooperatives improve the productivity of farmers by facilitating access to markets, credit, insurance and technology. Social cooperatives can provide an important safety net in the face of declining or minimal public welfare. They also show considerable potential for empowering youth and alleviating the growing global youth jobs crisis.?
在地震、海嘯、洪水等災(zāi)害之后，合作社已顯示出其動員團結(jié)重建的能力。農(nóng)業(yè)合作社通過協(xié)助提供市場、信貸、保險和技術(shù)，提高了農(nóng)民的生產(chǎn)力。在面對公共福利不斷減少或已經(jīng)最少的情況時，社會合作社可以提供一個重要的安全網(wǎng)。在增強青年權(quán)能和緩解不斷加重的全球青年就業(yè)危機方面，它們也表現(xiàn)出了可觀的潛力。

On this International Day of Cooperatives, I call on Governments to encourage policies to support and strengthen cooperatives so they can contribute fully to inclusive and sustainable development.
值此國際合作社日之際，我呼吁各國政府鼓勵采取政策支持和加強合作社，使它們能為包容性可持續(xù)發(fā)展充分作出貢獻。