As is known, the year 2025 has been declared the International Year of Cooperatives by the United Nations. In a global context marked by deepening economic and social inequalities and a growing interest in new, collaborative models, this initiative aims to raise awareness about cooperatives and to highlight the economic and social benefits of development through cooperative structures.
At this stage, as in the rest of the world, there is an increasing search in our country for new economic and social models. In such an environment, within the scope of the International Year of Cooperatives, it is possible to discuss the historical and current role of cooperatives in Türkiye, their developmental trajectory, and the opportunities they currently present, while bridging national and international agendas. In fact, both central government institutions and various cooperatives and civil society organizations are organizing activities in this direction.
On the other hand, municipalities also have a significant role to play in fostering this awareness. Municipalities are uniquely positioned to support the establishment, dissemination, and promotion of cooperative models that are new, collaborative, and enable citizens to participate directly in production processes, thus contributing to social and economic development. We believe that municipalities have a role to play in this emerging environment that seeks to connect our country's longstanding cooperative experience with the new approaches being developed globally in the field of next-generation cooperativism. Moreover, when structured and implemented effectively, cooperativism holds the potential not only to generate economic and social benefits but also to promote a culture of democratic and participatory governance.
To this end, as the Union of Municipalities of Turkiye (UMT), we are planning to hold a two-day workshop titled “Local Governments and Cooperativism” on October 9–10, 2025, at our headquarters in Ankara. We believe that such a workshop—bringing together elected municipal representatives and bureaucrats with academics and experienced experts in the field—can contribute to the development of new, alternative, and socially beneficial economic models.
CLICK ON THE ATTACHED FILE BELOW FOR THE WORKSHOP PROGRAM.