GDC attracts more support for its plans

The Global Development Co-operative (GDC) continues to add financial partners to its funding program.

Canadian co-operative insurer The Co-operators has pledged to invest $US500,000 in the development co-operative. This follows an earlier pledge made another insurance group, the mutual insurer Royal London.

"The Global Development Co-operative is an innovative way of allowing co-ops around the globe to support those in the developing world that play such important roles in bolstering sustainable economic development in their communities," said Kathy Bardswick, President and CEO of The Co-operators. "This will be an important legacy of the International Year of Co-operatives, which will empower people and help them lift themselves out of poverty for a long time after 2012."

Dame Pauline Green, President of the ICA, said: "We're delighted The Co-operators is supporting the Global Development Co-operative and joining other members to help communities in the developing world. With the global movement now working closer together than ever before as a result of the International Year, we believe many other businesses from across the movement will want to play a part in this initiative."

With Deutsche Bank Foundation also agreeing to provide funding, it is not only co-operatives that are supporting the GDC.

The other co-operatives which have taken up the opportunity to provide funding to the GDC include The Co-operative Group, Midcounties Co-operative, Crédit Coopératif, All China Federation of Supply and Marketing Co-operatives and the Indian Farmers Fertiliser Co-operative (IFFCO).