In the context of International Day of Cooperatives (IDC) 2026 themed “Cooperatives for a peaceful world” which is observed on the first Saturday of July, the Ministry of Industry, SME and Cooperatives is organising a series of activities.

A Wreath Laying Ceremony will be held on Saturday 4 July 2026 at Les Jardins de la Compagnie, Port Louis, in collaboration with the Mauritius Cooperative Alliance Ltd, the Apex body of the Cooperative Movement in Mauritius. The event will serve as a solemn tribute to the pioneers, leaders, and members of the cooperative movement whose vision, dedication, and service have shaped the social and economic landscape of the country.

On 9 July, a workshop on the Strategic Plan for Cooperatives will be organised by the Cooperatives Division of the Ministry. The objective is to formulate a strategic plan along with representatives of cooperative societies and key stakeholders to discuss strategic priorities for the development and expansion of the cooperative sector.

The workshop will focus on six strategic themes considered critical for the future development of the sector namely, food security, financial services, handicraft, export tapping for cooperative products, digitalisation and energy.

The workshop will culminate with the adoption of practical recommendations and strategic proposals for inclusion in the Cooperative Sector Strategic Plan.

Furthermore, an international webinar on the theme “Cooperatives for a Sustainable and Inclusive Future: Lessons from Mauritius, Malaysia and India” will be conducted by the National Cooperative College in collaboration with Cooperative Institute of Malaysia, and Vaikunth Mehta National Institute of Cooperative Management from India.

Activities by Cooperative Federations

As part of the celebrations, the Mauritius Cooperative Alliance Ltd, in collaboration with Cooperative Federations in Mauritius, will organise a series of activities to showcase the capacity of cooperatives to bring people together and foster greater social cohesion.

The Mauritius Co-operative Savings and Credit League Ltd will organise, on 8 July 2026 at the Government Teachers Union Centre in Quatre Bornes, a workshop to analyse and deliberate on the challenges facing the Cooperative Credit Union Sector.

The Mauritius Consumers Co-operative Federation Ltd will, for its part, conduct promotional sales at three cooperative consumer stores, namely Castel One Stop Shop Coop, La Flora Cooperative Stores Society and Bambous Cooperative Stores Society Ltd, from 6 to 12 July 2026.

During the same period, the Mauritius Co-operative Agricultural Federation Ltd will carry out promotional sales at all its retail outlets and conduct an awareness campaign, including the distribution of seedlings and plants to school children.

The Mauritius Livestock Marketing Co-operative Federation Ltd will hold a fresh milk tasting session at one of its sales outlets. The Mauritius Co-operative Alliance Ltd, in collaboration with the Postal Employees Cooperative Credit Union Ltd, will organise a charity campaign comprising the sponsorship of lunch and gift distribution to children in need.

International Day of Cooperatives

The IDC has been celebrated by the International Cooperative Alliance since 1923 and was officially recognised by the United Nations General Assembly in 1995. The annual observance seeks to raise awareness of the cooperative model and promote the values of international solidarity, economic efficiency, equality and peace.

This year's theme, "Cooperatives for a Peaceful World," underscores the unique ability of cooperatives to unite people, strengthen social cohesion and contribute to peaceful, inclusive societies. It also highlights the sector's contribution to sustainable development, social justice and stronger partnerships among stakeholders.

Across the world, cooperatives continue to demonstrate resilience in the face of economic and social challenges. By promoting economic participation, supporting food security, generating employment, strengthening local economies, fostering ethical value chains and contributing to environmental sustainability, the cooperative movement plays an important role in improving livelihoods and advancing lasting peace.

02 July 2026

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Topics: Cooperatives