Opening Remarks of the UN Resident Coordinator for the 2nd International Cooperative Congress: “Cooperatives Build a Better World”

Honorable Ministers, President of the International Cooperative Alliance, President of the Iran Chamber of Cooperatives, Excellencies, Cooperative Leaders, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Welcome to all of you to the 2nd International Cooperative Congress here in Tehran to celebrate the International Year of Cooperatives. Let me upfront acknowledge the important contribution that cooperatives play in the economy and in social inclusion. Across the globe, Cooperatives are rooted in community and shared responsibility. We appreciate your important contribution!
I am saying this, believing that the cooperative model is very much aligned with the vision of inclusive and sustainable development, which the world – and Iran – is aiming to achieve. Let me explain why.
Indeed, Iran and the UN have worked together on the vision of inclusive, resilient, and sustainable growth and development, which aligns with Iran’s Five Year Plan as well as the Global Goals.

I have been honored to lead the UN in I.R. Iran for more than the last four years. The cooperation between the Government has been diverse and comprehensive – from support to health priorities, to cooperation in the area of environmental preservation and climate change, from disaster management to drug control, from socio-economic resilience to mitigating the humanitarian impact of sanctions as well as support to refugees and host communities.

All of this is framed in a 5-year Cooperation Framework 2023-27 and related documents, following the long standing and proud collaboration since the establishment of the United Nations in 1945 with Iran as a founding member. This year the UN is marking its 80 years anniversary and since 75 years the UN is represented in Iran with its agencies, funds and programs – with currently 18 of them working with the Government in support of the people of Iran!

Also in today’s congress several parts of the UN in Iran and globally – UNDESA, UNDP, FAO and experts from different countries come together with the Iranian government, cooperative leaders and the international community. One of the unique characteristics of the UN is that we connect in country and global expertise, sharing good practices and knowledge. Not only in the area of cooperatives, but a multitude of different areas.

Ladies and gentlemen,
Some have termed cooperatives as People-Powered Engines of Change and I think this is a good description. Cooperatives have created real impact. Today, cooperatives involve more than a billion people worldwide through three million organizations. They provide work and income to nearly 280 million people, making up around one in every ten jobs on the planet.
And consider the impact of Cooperatives on sustainability today. Agricultural Cooperatives are helping farmers adapt to climate change, share resources, and improve food security. Housing Cooperatives are providing affordable shelter in cities where markets often exclude the vulnerable. Credit and savings Cooperatives are giving people access to finance where commercial banks do not reach. And workers’ Cooperatives are ensuring that employees have ownership over the output of their labor, creating workplaces built on dignity and equality.
As such, all over the world, cooperatives are the UN’s active partners to achieve the vision of sustainable development.
Iran is prominently placed in this global story and this year’s UN theme “Cooperatives Build a Better World”. Iran’s constitution recognizes cooperatives as the third pillar of the national economy, on par with the public and private sectors. Today Iran has more than 104,000 active cooperatives, with over 18 million members. And as we have heard the scope of their work is impressive.
Unlocking Potential: A New Horizon for UN–Iran Cooperation
This brings me to the opportunities ahead to align the strengths of Iran’s cooperatives
with international experience and standards.
The UN stands ready to help address the gap between policy and practice, improve international linkages and promote standards, such as self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, equity and solidarity. We are also ready to work with Iran’s cooperatives in improving the availability of data.
Most importantly, we can work together to align Iranian Cooperatives’ work with the Global Goals – whether it is in health, education, housing, or green industries or whether it is to provide opportunities for women, youth, and disadvantaged groups, such as the disabled to participate in economic life. For example, some of us visited a manufacturing cooperative in Alborz province yesterday, where 40% of employees were

women, others were people living with disabilities. These are precisely the opportunities we need to enhance!
Ladies and Gentlemen,
As we reflect on the theme of this year - “Cooperatives Build a Better World” - let us remember that this is not only a vision for the future but a reality that is already in motion.
As we will see during the panels today, from the forests of Brazil to the fisheries of Iran, from the coffee plantations of Kenya to the dairy farms of India – Cooperatives are proving every day that people, when united, can create prosperity with dignity. They are proving that Cooperatives are not just a means of economic empowerment, they are also vehicles of social inclusion.
This congress is an opportunity for action, and action is what is most needed in these times. As the great Iranian poet Saʿdi once said:
به عمل کار برآيد، به سخندانی نيست
"Deeds bring results, not eloquent words."
This is a call for governments, international organizations, private investors, and communities to come together and strengthen the Cooperative movement.
Together, we can ensure that Cooperatives continue to grow; as a central pillar of a fairer, greener, and more inclusive future.

Thank you.