EXPO CO-OP CELEBRATES SUCCESS IN MANCHESTER

Manchester, United Kingdom. 31 October, 2012; The world's largest ever co-operative exhibition has gone back to its roots. Manchester, a stronghold of British co-operative business became a centre of global co-operative commerce with the opening of the third Expo Coop, the co-operative sector’s world trade exhibition.

Expo Co-op 2012 united co-operative enterprises from over 35 countries under the one roof where 120 co-operatives exhibited a diverse array of high quality products and services.

Participating countries included African organisations from Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda. For the Americas: Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica and Mexico.

For Asia: China, East Timor, India, Indonesia, Iran, Korea, Malaysia, Mauritius, Pakistan, Palestine, Singapore, Sri Lanka and the UAE. For Europe: Belgium, Bulgaria, England, France, Italy, Lithuania, Portugal, Poland, Romania, Scotland, Spain, Turkey and Wales.

The expo-coop has grown in stature since we held the first trade fair in 2004 in São Paulo, Brazil. With only National Co-operative Organizations, Fenacoop Brazil has turn into a strong international exhibition for the co-operative sector’, explains Luiz Branco, President of ICA Expo.

Check the evolution of the trade fair:
(Click to enlarge)

EXPO CO-OP MANCHESTER 2012: OVER 10,000 VISITORS IN 3 DAYS!

With over 10,000 visitors in 3 days the business deals done in 2012 involved not only co-operative to co-operative in nature but also businesses coming from outside the co-operative sector.

“This expo has grown in stature since we held the first one in 2008 in Lisbon, Portugal. With over 10,000 visitors in 3 days the business deals done in 2012 involved not only co-operative to co-operative in nature but also businesses coming from outside the co-operative sector that want to do deals with us,” said Luiz Branco, President of ICA Expo.

Trade and entrepreneurial activities ensure that co-operatives can undertake their purpose to meet their common economic, social and cultural needs and aspirations. They draw attention to the fact that co-operatives are competitive enterprises operating locally as well as on the international market. Expo Co-op 2012 facilitated contacts, exchange of information, partnerships and provided trade related capacity building.

Despite challenging commercial environments co-operatives are thriving in times of market stress. The products and services presented in the trade fair showed exclusive features and advantages of each market which ensured greater competitiveness to the needs of professional visitors.

“They went to Manchester to make deals because they recognise that co-operative businesses are doing particularly well in tough times. We are the businesses that are more stable and resilient, so we make excellent commercial partners,” said Mr. Branco.

The Expo Co-op 2012 demonstrated that 80% of business opportunities came from mutual co-operation amongst co-operatives whereas 20% were from outside the sector. “The re-affirmed success of the event was based on inter co-operation, however, the base for future events will be the promotion and growth to the outside market”, adds Luiz Branco.

On behalf of the expo team, the company president would like to thank all of those who were involved and contributed to the success of Expo Co-op 2012!

Do you wish to participate in the next Expo Co-op or receive information about it?