Secretary-General’s Message on International Day of Cooperatives
秘书长国际合作社日致辞
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.
我们生活在一个全球不确定的时代。多重危机和自然灾害正在考验着哪怕是最强劲的经济和社区。一年一度的国际合作社日是一个突出强调合作社如何能为在所有区域和所有经济部门建立应变能力作出贡献的机会。
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.
在当前全球金融和经济危机过程中，金融合作社已证明了其力量和应变能力，使成员、员工和客户获得了利益。它们保持了很高的信用评级，增加了资产和营业额，并扩大了它们的成员和客户基础。
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、海啸、洪水等灾害之后，合作社已显示出其动员团结重建的能力。农业合作社通过协助提供市场、信贷、保险和技术，提高了农民的生产力。在面对公共福利不断减少或已经最少的情况时，社会合作社可以提供一个重要的安全网。在增强青年权能和缓解不断加重的全球青年就业危机方面，它们也表现出了可观的潜力。
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.
值此国际合作社日之际，我呼吁各国政府鼓励采取政策支持和加强合作社，使它们能为包容性可持续发展充分作出贡献。
