Cooperation
in the World
An international and transnational movement
The cooperative movement was born in Europe, specifically in Rochdale, England, in 1844, and rapidly expanded to every country in the world. The cooperative development model places people and their needs at the center of its actions, successfully providing solutions across vastly different geographical, political, economic, and social contexts.
The transnational nature of cooperation is not only found in its global presence. Voluntary membership, independent governance, and the democratic management of cooperative enterprises have also fostered cooperation among cooperatives, across regions, countries, and continents.
What We Do to Support the Cooperative Model in Foreign Markets
Exchange and training, promotion of Emilia-Romagna cooperatives in foreign markets, promotion of cooperative projects abroad.
Exchange and Training
We have developed significant collaboration, exchange, and development projects on the themes of cooperativism in many parts of the world, sharing and acquiring experiences and valuable contacts. Every year, we promote and participate in international projects for cooperative development and the transfer of know-how.
WelcomeCoop
WelcomeCoop is a service created to host international study visits exploring the cooperative movement in Emilia-Romagna.
Every year, we receive numerous delegations of scholars, academics, cooperators, associations, and public institutions from Canada, the United States, Brazil, Chile, Korea, Vietnam, Japan, and other European countries. Their goal is to learn about our business system, the role of the association, the unique characteristics of our Region, and the developmental trajectories of the cooperatives we represent.
International Development of Cooperatives
We promote the internationalization of local cooperatives through both local and global development projects. By bridging the gap between supply and demand, we have supported the continental development requested by cooperatives and responded ethically to the challenges posed by globalization.
access to new international markets
We help Cooperatives access new international markets
We assist cooperatives in accessing new markets, thereby expanding commercial opportunities for our members: potential new clients and new sources of revenue. Expanding presence in international markets can also help cooperatives mitigate risks associated with dependence on a single economic or geographical market.
knowledge of new business models
We foster knowledge of new business models
Contact with diverse economic and cultural realities allows for the observation and adoption of new business models, operating standards, and successful strategies. The exchange of ideas and practices can significantly enrich internal expertise and promote a more dynamic and creative environment within the cooperatives.
International Opportunities for the Emilia-Romagna Cooperative Model
The projects through which we have exported and grown cooperation
Our international cooperation projects aim to support cooperative growth in developing countries, as well as in already developed nations. The projects implemented over time have helped identify commercial and industrial partnership opportunities for businesses across many sectors, in addition to enhancing the value of the Emilia-Romagna production system, which is built on knowledge, innovation, expertise, production quality, and tradition.
Europe
As the cradle of cooperation, our region is the first natural destination for cooperatives entering the international arena. Cultural and physical proximity to various countries fosters the creation of collaborative networks and business partnerships. Over the years, we have launched numerous European projects, aligning with the innovation and development guidelines of the European agenda.
DigAccessAgrotourism Project
2024 - 2027
DigAccessAgrotourism Project
DIGITAL TRANSITION FOR ACCESSIBLE AGROTOURISM
The DigAccessAgrotourism project – Digital Transition for Accessible Agrotourism, funded under the European COSME-SEED program, aims to stimulate the digital transition of social economy enterprises and SMEs. It assists organizations operating in the agrotourism sector in becoming more accessible to people with disabilities through digital empowerment.
The project involves 7 partners from 6 different countries (Poland, Cyprus, Belgium, Italy, Portugal, Greece) who, based on a needs-mapping of social economy agrotourism organizations, will conduct tailor-made capacity building at both transnational and national levels, and mentoring sessions focused on the digital enhancement of agrotourism organizations regarding accessibility.
SKI.F.T. Project
2023 - 2025
SKI.F.T. Project
SKILLS FOR TRANSITION
The Skills for Transition project – Increasing the impact of small social economy enterprises (skift.kooperationen.dk/forside),
is funded under the European COSME-SEED program and is designed to increase the competitiveness of small and medium-sized cooperative enterprises.
The project involves 7 partners from 4 different countries (Italy, Denmark, Poland, Belgium) and aims to develop sustainable business models focused on the green economy, utilizing new technologies as enabling factors through specialized consulting and coaching services.
The main beneficiaries of the project are 30 small and micro-enterprises (10 in Emilia-Romagna) within the social economy (as well as non-social economy SMEs), alongside social economy intermediary organizations, and public agencies that promote social economy development, all selected through dedicated calls for proposals.
Support for the selected small and micro-enterprises will be provided through advisory services and business coaching/support delivered via direct funding in the form of vouchers (cascade fundings) distributed by the project consortium.
EU FACTOR (NEXT) Project
2022 - 2024
EU FACTOR (NEXT) Project
FOR A COHESIVE, SUSTAINABLE, AND JUST EUROPE
Cohesion Policy is the main investment policy of the EU, with the primary objective of reducing imbalances between European regions to harmonize the community’s socio-economic context.
With the EU FACTOR and EU FACTOR NEXT projects (www.eufactor.it) funded for two consecutive years by the Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy, the partner consortium aimed to use communication as a knowledge management tool, both to educate citizens and to activate the engagement of specific targets – businesses and the younger generation – with the goal of highlighting the tangible results of Cohesion Policy already achieved locally and the strategic importance of the role of businesses and young people as drivers of change and of strengthening European identity.
With a fully cooperative partnership composed of Innovacoop, TRMedia, Area AG, Cooperdiem, Radiocoop, Rad.uni, the project developed starting from the Emilia-Romagna territory before reaching other Italian regions and several European countries, thanks to the collaboration of 6 young journalists who contributed to the project by producing social media content and giving it a broad and interconnected character.
All available communication formats were used to reach the targets: open events, conferences, hackathons, video clips, audio clips, podcasts, social media, interviews, testimonials, YouTubers, quizzes with school students, and press outreach.
Poland and Romania Project
2018
Poland and Romania Project
OPPORTUNITIES AND TOOLS FOR INDUSTRY AND SERVICES
A project designed to create market opportunities for member cooperatives in Eastern Europe (specifically in Poland and Romania) and to support their growth through the deployment of dedicated sales figures, market testing, and business missions, carried out throughout 2018.
The transnational nature of cooperation is not only found in its global presence. Voluntary membership, independent governance, and the democratic management of cooperative enterprises have also fostered cooperation among cooperatives, across regions, countries, and continents.
On-site missions were carried out between September and October 2018 to identify potential clients/commercial partners and to incentivize synergies between participating companies. The project includes one-to-one meetings for the development of a tailored commercial strategy, market research activities, and commercial back-office support, in addition to follow-up activities after the business missions.
Aqua Project
January 2011 – June 2013
Aqua Project
Aqua, Adoption of Quality water Use in Agro‐industry
The Aqua Project, funded by the EU’s Life+ program, aims to support innovation in the production processes of agri-food enterprises by reducing water consumption and waste. This initiative was promoted by Legacoop Emilia-Romagna, Legacoop Agroalimentare, Legacoop Agroalimentare Nord Italia, Indica, the Department of the Environment of the Emilia-Romagna Region, and the Regional Agency for Environmental Protection (ARPA), and co-funded by the EU’s Life+ program.
Aqua refers to the Water Alliance, a commitment document signed by public and private entities, proposed and approved by the Regional Council of Emilia-Romagna.
The following joined the document: Granarolo, Terremerse, Fruttagel, Cooperativa Agricola Cesenate, and Italcarni, along with ten other cooperatives.
Balcani & Co Project
2016
Balcani & Co Project
BALCANI&CO. is a project promoted by Legacoop Emilia-Romagna, in collaboration with Indaco, Innovacoop, and ANCPL, the National Association of Production and Work Cooperatives, that aims to support international growth within the Balkan region, specifically in Serbia and Albania, for enterprises operating in the industrial sector.
The project, specifically, has the objective of:
– Providing targeted assistance to each participating enterprise within the Balkan market;
– Developing company awareness regarding their positioning within the region and the two focal countries;
– Fostering relationships among businesses interested in developing within the Balkan area, in order to establish supply chain collaborations suited to making the internationalization process more effective and to creating profitable commercial penetration synergies. For this purpose, a B2B day will be organized for Italian companies for whom this type of synergy is particularly decisive and strategic.
– Creating market opportunities in the Balkan area through services tailored to the needs of the participating firms, through the deployment of dedicated sales figures and the execution of market tests.
The Balcani&CO. project is carried out with the contribution of the Emilia-Romagna Region as part of the “Emilia Romagna Go Global” program.
Apriti Sesamo Project
January 2011 – June 2013
Apriti Sesamo: New Cooperation Networks for Food Sovereignty
Legacoop Emilia-Romagna is a partner in the project “Apriti Sesamo: New Cooperation Networks for Food Sovereignty”, promoted by CEFA – Il Seme della Solidarietà Onlus, Overseas, and Osvic, with funding from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Inspired by the fundamental principle of food sovereignty, the project’s general objective is to contribute to the building of a culture that favors food and agricultural systems defined from the bottom up, by producers and consumers alike. Systems that are environmentally sustainable and respectful of the cultures and traditions of their specific contexts.
The specific objective is to make the general public, and young people in particular, aware of the central importance of food sovereignty, identifying it as a development priority capable of bridging the gap between the Global South and the Global North.
Among the project’s activities are numerous awareness-raising initiatives that will involve the territories of Emilia-Romagna and Sardinia, regions already active on food sovereignty issues.
Ecoadria – Fisherman Project
June 2014 – September 2015
ECOADRIA-FISHERMAN Project
The European project ECOADRIA-FISHERMAN aims to create the conditions for the professional retraining of fishermen in the Adriatic Sea, through a pilot project that, by analyzing the feasibility and potential for developing services in the environmental, tourism, and cultural fields, seeks to test a new form of marine management that puts local fishermen at the forefront.
The project involves the active and participatory engagement of all fishermen in exploring service diversification, as well as raising their awareness of the challenges facing fishing and marine environmental pollution, through a series of studies, research, actions, tools, and activities capable of positively impacting sustainable development along the coastal strip of Emilia-Romagna, while also creating the best conditions for reproducibility and transferability toward other fishing ports in Emilia-Romagna, other Italian regions, and other European Union countries.
ECOADRIA-FISHERMAN involves, in addition to Legacoop Emilia-Romagna, the Municipality of Bellaria Igea Marina, as lead partner, the Bellaria Pesca Producers’ Organization, Arpa Emilia-Romagna, Lega Pesca, Cooperativa Mare, and Cesvip.
ER@POL Project
September 2013 – September 2015
ER@POL Project
The Emilia-Romagna Region approved the ER@POL project as part of the program to promote the regional production system in foreign markets.
The project, jointly promoted by Legacoop Emilia-Romagna, Confcooperative, and Confartigianato, is aimed at cooperative and artisanal agri-food enterprises within the Emilia-Romagna territory.
ER@POL moves in the direction of creating an integrated offering of products from the Emilia-Romagna region, capable of guiding demand from the Polish market toward high-quality and safety-standard productions, with the goal of building a solid commercial base in Poland and a stable platform for promotion.
Mediterranean and the Middle East
Experience in the Mediterranean basin is primarily based on partnerships with Social and Solidarity Economy development cooperation programs, born from the experience of several regional NGOs, to support the socio-economic participation of women and youth in rural communities, with a particular focus on Tunisia and Morocco.
Dubai Project
September 2018 – December 2019
Dubai Project
Creative Minds for Sustainable Future (CREAMI)
Accompanying actions for businesses toward Expo Dubai 2020
The World Expo, themed “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future”, was held from October 2020 to April 2021, the first in a Middle Eastern country, and promised to be one of the most significant in history, taking place in a free trade zone with a clear business-oriented focus.
The Italian Government joined the initiative, and the Emilia-Romagna Region also intended to be present in the Italy Pavilion and to actively participate in promoting the regional economic, tourism, and cultural systems.
Creative Minds for Sustainable Future (CREAMI) is the project, promoted by Legacoop Emilia-Romagna in collaboration with Legacoop Bologna, that aimed to create business opportunities in the UAE by leveraging the international showcase provided by Expo Dubai 2020. Through the definition of an approach strategy strongly aligned with the Expo’s themes, the project aimed to maximize the promotional impact of the event on foreign markets for both businesses and the local territory.
The initiative was co-funded by the Emilia-Romagna Region.
Target regional production sectors: Agri-food, construction, innovative services and technologies, well-being.
Palestine Project
March 2017 – February 2020
Palestine Project
In Palestine, Legacoop Emilia-Romagna took part in the project TU.R.B.O – Tubas Rural Business Opportunities and social innovation (March 2017 – February 2020), coordinated by WeWorld – GVC, in collaboration with the Tubas Governorate, the Palestinian NGO Women Business Forum, and in partnership with Legacoop Emilia-Romagna, Melpignano Community Cooperative, LattEmilia Cooperative, and the Autonomous Province of Bolzano.
The project aimed to strengthen the resilience of rural villages in the Jordan Valley in Palestine. In particular, the villages involved in the project were 19 communities in the Tubas Governorate. The specific objective was to strengthen and encourage the continued presence of economic agricultural entities in the Palestinian territory through actions linking humanitarian aid, rehabilitation, and inclusive development.
In parallel with TU.R.B.O., the project PAHLER – Female Socio-Economic Empowerment in Area C took place, co-funded by the Emilia-Romagna Region, focusing particularly on improving the entrepreneurial skills of Palestinian women and girls and incentivizing their participation in the local micro-entrepreneurial fabric.
Legacoop Emilia-Romagna, as a partner, supported the two projects with its expertise in the organization, governance, and networking of cooperatives. Specifically, through coaching and mentoring activities regarding community cooperatives and the start-up of new female social enterprises. It supported organizational development and the local promotion of experiences and products through the support of sector experts and the organization of an exchange visit featuring Palestinian micro-entrepreneurs and the involvement of cooperatives from Emilia-Romagna.
Tunisia Project
2013
Tunisia Project
Legacoop Emilia-Romagna’s experience in the Mediterranean basin began in 2013, with support for several development cooperation projects promoted by the NGOs Nexus Emilia Romagna and GVC, and has continued with support for further development cooperation projects.
The proposed initiatives constitute a broad program to support the local development of the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE), promoting its recognition and support within public policies renegotiated between civil society and institutions. The process of institutionalizing the SSE in Tunisia is taking shape through the presentation of a comprehensive draft law to the Parliamentary Assembly.
The numerous technical assistance activities within the projects are aimed at creating income opportunities and decent work, particularly for youth and women in small communities. Furthermore, Legacoop is supporting the definition of regulations and fostering knowledge and comparison with Italian legislation.
Turkey Project
2012
Turkey Project
The project “Promotion of the construction supply chain in Turkey” was launched in February 2012, approved by the Emilia-Romagna Region as part of the regional promotional program for internationalization (Measure 5.1 of the P.T.A.T.P.I. 2003-2005). Through this project, Legacoop Emilia-Romagna, as the promoting body representing all associated regional cooperatives, and ICIE, the Cooperative Institute for Innovation, as the implementing body, intend to support companies operating within the cooperative construction and infrastructure supply chain (industry, construction, materials production, and design).
The project includes a program of activities aimed at building:
• business opportunities and the acquisition of orders / contracts in partnership;
• a network of contacts and collaborations to encourage the involvement of companies in large-scale innovative projects.
The Region, through the Department of Productive Activities, co-finances the project and will ensure institutional support with Turkish partners.
Asia
The Asian continent is at the heart of the regional production system’s promotion programs and offers significant opportunities for cooperative development. We have developed partnership agreements and business missions.
South Korea Project
2015
South Korea Project
On May 12, 2015, an agreement was signed in Bologna marking the start of a defined collaborative path between Legacoop Emilia-Romagna and the Namdo-Cooperatives Federation, of the Jeollanam-do Region.
The “Memorandum of Understanding”, also signed by the Governor of the Jeollanam-do Province, Lee Nak-yon, provides for training and study visits for Korean cooperators and representatives of the association.
The following are the main themes the projects will focus on:
- Development of new investment plans and new cooperative models, particularly in the social sphere;
- Collaboration on the development of quality processes in agricultural production;
- Sharing of support strategies for young cooperators;
- Support for the internationalization of businesses, including through the organization of business missions and B2B meetings.
Vietnam Project
July 2015
Vietnam Project
On July 2, 2015, an agreement was signed in Bologna between Legacoop Emilia-Romagna, the Vietnam Cooperative Alliance (VCA), and Unioncamere Emilia-Romagna to develop relations and promote cooperation between businesses.
The agreement was signed for Emilia-Romagna by the president of Legacoop, Giovanni Monti, and the president of Unioncamere, Maurizio Torreggiani, and for Vietnam by Hai Giang Nguyen, the head of the VCA.
Objective of the agreement: to share best practices and support the development of cooperativism in Vietnam, promote economic and commercial collaboration, and train human resources.
Africa
In missions on African soil, our goal is to gain a closer understanding of the needs of the continental territories, provide technical assistance for the development of cooperativism, and verify and establish commercial and production partnerships with local actors, both private and public, while capturing the development trends of these countries. Below is an in-depth look at the projects carried out in the territories of Mozambique and South Africa.
Senegal and Gambia Project
2020 - 2022
Senegal and Gambia Project
The project TRAIETTORIE: paths for inclusion in the qualified labor market, was funded by the Ministry of Labor and Social Policies through a FAMI call – Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund – Objective 2.
It aims to contribute to the socio-occupational integration of incoming workers or trainees and the circulation of correct information regarding migration, aimed at potential migrants and host Italian companies to counter irregular migration and illegal labor exploitation.
Specific objectives: strengthening skills in the Italian language, civic education, professional qualification, occupational safety, and Italian regulations governing the residence of third-country citizens for potential incoming migrants, specifically: Ivorians, Gambians, Senegalese, and Albanians.
The project also includes an action for experimental training in business start-ups to identify entrepreneurial projects and support their launch, as provided for in the 2019 Decreto Flussi. For this reason, the construction of governance networks was relevant, that is a trans-national connection, for the creation of local partnerships and to manage relations with local institutions strategic to the project.
The lead partner responsible for the project is Demetra Formazione Srl and, in addition to Legacoop, the other partners are: CIM – Centro Studi Cooperazione Internazionale e Migrazione Soc. Coop onlus and the Associazione Comunità Papa Giovanni XXIII.
Mozambique Project
2018 - 2025
Mozambique Project
For several years, Mozambique has been at the center of various projects aimed at strengthening the local cooperative movement, with specific interventions focusing on women and agricultural value chains:
Manica paras Mulheres – Leadership and strengthening in the districts of Barue, Macossa, Guro, and Tambara (AID 12248/01/2)
Funded by AICS – Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, the project aims to promote peace and sustainable, inclusive development for the participation of women in the rural economy in the Province of Manica and the intervention districts in Mozambique. Specifically, the project proposes the advancement of women in the agri-food, trade, and tourism sectors by strengthening technical capacity and knowledge, and creating strategic partnerships in the four aforementioned districts for greater gender equality.
In relation to the socio-economic context of Mozambique, and particularly the Province of Manica, the project is committed to achieving the following results: creating a favorable environment for the enhancement of female entrepreneurship in the agri-food and tourism sectors; strengthening the skills of the female beneficiaries through dedicated training courses; and boosting female entrepreneurship in local communities through the development of at least 2 sustainable production chains (joint ventures).
The partners involved in the project are, in addition to Legacoop Emilia-Romagna: ProgettoMondo, Consorzio Associazioni con il Mozambico (CAM), Helpcode Italia, Associazione Italiana Turismo Responsabile (AITR), Fundação Micaia, Grupo de Mulheres de Partilha de Ideais de Sofala (GMPIS)
Semeando Valor – Access to the cashew value chain for the socio-economic inclusion of family farmers” (AID 012590/06/5).
Funded by AICS – Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, the project aims to increase productivity and improve the sustainability of family agricultural production systems in the districts of Morrumbene, Homoine, Inharrime, Funhalouro, and Panda in Mozambique.
The initiative aims to strengthen producer organizations (formal and informal) that are currently extremely disadvantaged, providing opportunities for capacity building, market access, and mutual support. Capacity-building sessions will be organized on the themes of cooperativism and female participation in decision-making processes, and operational support will be provided to organizations interested in structuring themselves as cooperatives.
The partners involved in the project are, in addition to Legacoop Emilia-Romagna: NO ONE OUT, Instituto de Amêndoas de Moçambique (IAM), Kuvanga – Cooperativa de Agro-processamento, Associação de Agronegócios da Província de Inhambane (ASSAPI), Associação Moçambicana para a Promoção do Cooperativismo Moderno (AMPCM).
Fruitful Cooperation. Inclusive and innovative fruit supply chains in Mozambique
Funded by AICS – Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, the project intended to work on the economic inclusion of farming families, with a focus on the socio-economic empowerment of women, through access to value-added chains of agricultural production in the districts of Morrumbene, Homoine, and Inharrime.
The partners involved in the project are, in addition to Legacoop Emilia-Romagna: SCAIP – Servizio Collaborazione Assistenza Internazionale Piamartino Onlus, Municipality of Milan, San Lidano Società Cooperativa Agricola, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine of the University of Brescia – AgroFood Lab, TechnoServe – Business solutions to poverty, Associação Moçambicana pela Promoção do Cooperativismo Moderno – AMPCM, Instituto do Fomento do Caju.
Mozambique and South Africa Project
2015
Mozambique and South Africa Project
The project “Promotion of the Emilia-Romagna production system in Mozambique and South Africa” aims to identify commercial and industrial partnership opportunities for construction and off-shore industry firms (logistics, facility management, materials, etc.) in Mozambique; and for construction and agro-industry firms in South Africa.
In particular, through the involvement of partners and consultants in the two target countries, the project intends to:
- Identify partners consistent with the profiles of the companies involved
- Organize and coordinate clustered outgoing missions for individual groups of companies and incoming missions for potential partners
- Coordinate with the Emilia-Romagna Region for institutional coverage in organizing two business missions (in June and October 2016)
- Provide specific consulting support as the process moves forward
- Involve Simest and Sace to identify appropriate financial support instruments.
The activities are carried out in collaboration with Innovacoop srl, Koffi Consulting E.I., Boorea soc. coop.
The project is co-funded by the Emilia-Romagna Region under the PRAP 2012-2015 Measure 4.1 Promotion of the regional production system on European and non-European foreign markets “Bricst Plus 2013-15” – 3rd year.
Mozambique
According to reports from the ICE, in the coming years Mozambique is set to develop business opportunities in the Agri-food, Logistics and Transport, and Extractive Industry sectors.
In 2011, the Italian company ENI and the American company Anadarko discovered, in the Rovuma basin, immense off-shore natural gas fields totaling 2,000 billion cubic meters of gas. The discovery of these fields is providing the foundation for SMEs to emerge and integrate into a favorable economic environment.
The extractive industry will be a significant driver for the construction and infrastructure, transport, telecommunications, manufacturing, and financial services sectors. Entering the Mozambican market is relevant both to aspire to compete in ENI’s vendor list and to acquire, together with local companies, orders destined for local actors, which should amount to approximately 25% of the total business value (“local content”).
Institutional and promotional initiatives by the MAE and MISE in the country have been intense from 2013 to the present.
South Africa
South Africa plans to invest resources equal to 3.079 billion euros in infrastructure (source: National Infrastructure Plan). There are already 18 strategic projects to improve infrastructure such as ports, railways, and roads necessary to accelerate the development of the mining, agricultural, and tourism sectors in the North West of the country.
Further opportunities in South Africa are identified for the agri-food/Made in Italy sector and, within the construction sector, in hospital building.
The Emilia-Romagna region will sign a collaboration agreement with the Gauteng province, which includes the urban areas of Johannesburg and Pretoria.
Latin America and Central America
In Central and Latin America, there are significant possibilities for cooperative development at both international and local levels. The fields of activity are diverse and include assistance and training for the development of cooperativism, as well as support and assistance for regional businesses in identifying internationalization opportunities, both of a commercial and industrial nature.
Cuba Project
October 2017 – December 2018
Latin America and Central America Project
The project Cuba: real prospects for productive and solidary collaboration aims to promote the production system of Emilia-Romagna in Cuba, through guidance and assistance for businesses in identifying internationalization opportunities, of both a commercial and industrial nature.
In 2011, Cuba launched a process to update its economic and social model, with the intention of giving more space to private initiative and managerial autonomy to state enterprises. In this context, moreover, cooperatives have been identified as a form of enterprise particularly suited to the historical moment the country is experiencing.
Specifically, the project intends to:
– Promote the collective participation of regional businesses in the Havana International Fair, which represents an ideal environment for international exhibitors and visitors to engage in dialogue with local institutions and for B2B meetings.
– Facilitate the identification of potential commercial/industrial partners for regional businesses and facilitate the establishment of collaborations.
– Collect specific studies and materials useful for the formalization of collaboration agreements and assist/facilitate eventual processes.
– Organize two missions to Havana, one of which during the 2017 edition of FIHAV, in collaboration with ICE, providing specialized assistance to businesses during the exploratory missions.
– Foster the consolidation of economic and institutional relations also through incoming visits of Cuban operators to Emilia-Romagna.
Brazil Project
2008
Brazil Project
“Brasil Proximo – Five Italian Regions for Integrated Local Development in Brazil” is an international cooperation program co-funded by the MAE and promoted by the Umbria, Marche, Tuscany, Liguria, and Emilia-Romagna Regions, along with the Brazilian Federal Government.
Legacoop Emilia-Romagna has collaborated on this project since 2008 with the Emilia-Romagna Region, the lead partner for cooperative development activities, across various fields of activity:
- Support for the organization of the Guarantee System for access to credit and Confidi in Brazil, with particular attention to the development of second-level guarantee companies based on the model of cooperative guarantee consortia in Italy;
- Support for the creation of an observatory/database on cooperativism, aimed at facilitating strategic decision-making processes for both policymakers and the cooperatives themselves;
- Training for members, executives, and managers of Brazilian cooperatives and associations, aimed at increasing skills in management, definition, and the implementation of services to support cooperation;
- Technical assistance to groups of producers in the agri-food sector to improve production processes and to launch certification pathways;
Support for the modernization process of the fruit and vegetable market of Greater Curitiba, with the technical and scientific support of the University of Bologna and CAAB – Centro Agro-Alimentare Bologna. Within this action, an important collaboration was established with Hortifruti Brasil Show, the fruit and vegetable sector fair in Curitiba.
Numerous Brazilian entities and associations collaborated in various capacities and benefited from the activities. In particular: the Presidency of the Brazilian Republic, Ministry of Labor, Ministry of Agriculture, Brazilian cooperative centers (OCB, Unisol, Unicafes), National SEBRAE, Sebrae Paraná, Cooperative Organization of the State of Paraná, Paranaense Institute of Technical Assistance and Rural Development (EMATER), Fruit and Vegetable Supply Center of Paraná – CEASA, cooperatives, and producers.