“Farm Credit Armenia” UCO CC CEO Armen Gabrielyan attended the International Cooperative Alliance’s Global Conference organized in Kigali, Rwanda which was held on October 14-17. More than 1,000 people from 94 countries participated in the conference discussed the contribution of cooperatives to the sustainable development of countries, including such important issues as: women’s empowerment, the preservation of the environment, the eradication of hunger and poverty, decent work, ethical value chains, affordable housing, equality and peace, and innovation in entrepreneurship.
The activist and one of the leaders and board members of the International Forum on Globalization, Dr. Vandana Shiva and the Principal Adviser for European Social Policy at the European Political Strategy Centre (EPSC), the in-house think tank of the European Commission, Patrick Develtere, were two of the speakers.
The ICA General Assembly also adopted a declaration in which it reiterates its commitment to “peace, wellbeing and prosperity for all”. This African country, where 43% of the population are members of cooperatives, has improved significantly its economic position in recent years. Rwanda, which has witnessed the genocide and civil war, which is called by many people "African Singapore", today is in the first place by economic growth in Africa. :