EXPOCOOP 2014 was held 15~17 at EXPO Unimed, Curitiba Brasil. The Organizacao das Cooperativas Brasileiras (OCB), ICAO member, was the partner of the EXPOCOOP and co-organized the events. EXPOCOOP (www.expocoop.com) was initiated to provide co-operative organizations with the real opportunity to show their values, achievements, growth and most of all, to highlight how much of a player the Co-operative movement can be in the Global Economy. By presenting the quality and excellence of co-operative products, co-operative societies promote their image, consolidate contacts and do business. The event’s main focus is to provide co-operatives with the opportunity to display and demonstrate the latest products on the market and to create partnerships in trade between producers and the international consumer market.
This year co-operatives in 15 countries joined the exhibition to promote their products and services. From ICAO members, OCB, All China Federation of Supply and Marketing Co-operative (ACFSMC) and Forestry Co-operatives Central Union of Turkey (OR-KOOP) participated in the EXPOCOOP. OCB was the main exhibitor displaying from agricultural products to medical services with its member co-operatives. ACFSMC with 22 delegations opened a large-scale booth and promoted products from tea to industrial materials. OR-KOOP also ran a booth for olive oils and nuts.
In conjunction with the EXPOCOOP, IV BRICS Co-operative Meeting was held. The Meeting was founded by Mr. Freitas, President of OCB, to expand networks and to facilitate the co-operation among ICA members of BRICS countries: Brasil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. This year they covered the topics such as social growth generated by co-operatives, the stimulus to co-operative values and also the risks of co-operative enterprises. ICAO Secretariat was invited to the meeting by OCB and Gwangseog Hong, deputy secretary-general, attended the BRICS Co-operative Meeting and EXPOCOOP. He had an opportunity to introduce the ICAO and its activities and got big attentions on ICAO “One-coop One-coop campaign” not only from leaders of BRICS countries and but also from the Expo participants.