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The second International Congress on Cooperative Economy, held under the theme “Cooperatives Build a Better World”, was held in Tehran on September 02, 2025, with the support of the United Nations in Iran. It brought together a diverse group of stakeholders to explore the role of cooperatives in achieving sustainable development, economic resilience, and social equity. The event takes place in the context of the UN International Year of Cooperatives 2025, and aims to strengthen international cooperation in the cooperative sector, promote innovation and productivity, and elevate Iran’s position in global cooperative diplomacy. In his opening remarks, the UN Resident Coordinator in the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mr. Stefan Priesner, also emphasized that cooperatives drive global progress by creating jobs, promoting sustainability, and empowering communities. In Iran, they are the recognized “third pillar” of the economy, with over 104,000 cooperatives supporting agriculture, transport, fisheries, housing, and industry, making them key to national growth and resilience. “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,” added the Resident Coordinator. The congress gathered 1,120 of participants from government ministries, UN agencies, funds and programmes, international organizations, civil society, academia, and diplomatic missions.  Other speakers from the UN system agencies included representatives from the UN Development Programme (UNDP), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA). The conference’s key themes focused on a range of relevant issues, including cooperatives and sustainable development, cooperative justice and community empowerment, the role of women and youth, innovative financing models, and cooperative integration into public sector reform and national value chains. The congress is organized by the Iran Chamber of Cooperatives (ICC) in collaboration with the Ministry of Cooperatives, Labour and Social Welfare, in coordination from the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) and support from UN Iran.