Monday 25 December 2017

A.P. Mahesh Co-operative Urban Bank Limited

History of the Bank - A.P. Mahesh Co-operative Urban Bank Limited
GENESIS
A.P. Mahesh Co-operative Urban Bank Limited is India's premier Urban Co-operative Banking Institution. The Bank has attained this premier position without compromising the spirit of co-operative principles, while at the same time striving to assimilate and implement newer methods of work organisation and management, with a firm commitment to its objectives.
REGISTRATION AND COMMENCEMENT OF OPERATIONS
A P Mahesh Co-operative Urban Bank Ltd. (popularly known as Mahesh Bank) was registered as a Primary Co-operative Society on 30th June, 1977. The Bank has commenced its operations on 9th August, 1978.
The Bank was accorded SCHEDULED STATUS by Reserve Bank of India from 26th October, 1996 - the first Co-operative Bank to be accorded this status in the entire South India. Dr C. Rangarajan, the then Governor, Reserve Bank of India graced the occasion. The Bank has been registered as a Multi-State Co-operative Bank under the Multi-State Co-operative Societies Act, 1984 with effect from 30.05.2001 - again the first Co-operative Bank to achieve this coveted position in South India.

BRANCH EXPANSION
Mahesh Bank presently has 44 branches - 34 in the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad and one each at Khammam, Warangal, Karimnagar in Telangana State, Vijayawada, Guntur, Rajahmundry, Visakhapatnam, in Andhra Pradesh State, Jaipur & Bhilwara in Rajasthan and Mumbai in Maharashtra State.
Reserve Bank of India acceded to the request of the Bank to open 1 more branch in the State of Telangana.
AWARDS
The Bank bagged the "SPECIAL AWARD" in 77th ALL INDIA INDUSTRIAL EXHIBITION held at Hyderabad during 1.1.2017 to 15.02.2017 for its exemplary participation and personalised services rendered to its customers.
One more feather on the cap of the bank for having Award Award for "BEST MOBILE APP" and "BEST e-PAYMENTS AWARDS” by the Banking Frontiers, (India’s first publication of its kind on Banking Technology and Business issues) at a function held at Jaipur – Rajasthan on 9th September, 2017.
AUTOMATION:
Mahesh Bank is the first Co-operative Urban Bank in the States of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh:
§  to offer Core Banking Solutions(CBS), Bancassurance, Mutual Funds, Direct RTGS/NEFT, e-Seva, RuPay ATM-cum-Debit Card facilities.
§  to offer IMPS – Merchant Payment Service – for online payment of Electricity, Telephone Bills and booking flight, bus and hotel bookings.

FOREIGN EXCHANGE TRANSACTIONS:
The Bank has been granted license to undertake money transfer business and specified non trade current account transactions by the RBI as Authorised Dealer Category-II.Mahesh Bank is the first Co-operative Urban Bank to get thi licence in the States of Telangana & Andhra Pradesh.
CAPITAL ADEQUACY NORMS:
The Capital to Risk Weighted Assets Ratio (CRAR) of the bank stood at 19%% as on 31-3-2017 as against a minimum stipulation of 9% prescribed by RBI.
VISION
“To make brand “MAHESH BANK” synonymous to trust and reliability, to be a leader amongst the Multi State Scheduled Co-operative Banks in the whole of South India, to render excellence and personalized services and to contribute to Co-operative movement, making credit available to the customers, more particularly to Individuals, SMEs, thereby contributing to their growth and striving to maintain Net NPAs at 0% level” throughout.
MISSION
By the year 2020, Mahesh Bank aims to achieve ambitious Business target of Rs. 10,000 crores, Profit of Rs. 100 crores, Low cost deposit ratio of 30%, CD ratio of 70%, Gross NPAs to be maintained below 3%, Net NPAs at '0%' and 100 Branch and ATM network.
TARGET FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31.03.2018
Mahesh Bank has set to scale new heights. By the financial year end 31.03.2018, the Bank's ambition is to achieve Rs.3800 crore business & net NPAs continue to be maintained at "0%" level.
FUTURE PLANS
Every effort is being made to achieve the mission – 2020 & to introduce e-KYC, Bharat Bill Payment System, Tablet/Agent Banking & Unified Payments Interface(UPI) system.

Objectives
The principal object of the Bank will be to promote the interests of all its members to attain their social and economic betterment through self-help and mutual aid in accordance with the Co-operative Principles.
The objects of the Bank shall be to engage in any one or more of the forms of business enumerate in Section 6 as amended by Section 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 and in particular to carry out the following forms of business:
§  To do banking business on Co-operative Principles by accepting for the purpose of lending or investment of deposits of money from members as well as the public, repayable on demand or otherwise and withdrawable by cheque, draft, pay order or otherwise.
§  To raise funds by issue of shares and/or any other securities as permitted by the Regulatory Authority.
§  To encourage thrift, self-help and co-operation among members.
§  To prevent members from falling into permanent indebtedness and to assist them financially in times of difficulty and to help them to get out of debt.
§  To engage in any one or more of the following forms of business namely:
(i) The borrowing, raising or taking up of money;
(ii) The lending or advancing of money to members either upon or without security;
(iii)The drawing, making, accepting, discounting, buying, selling, collecting and dealing in bills of exchange, hundies, promissory notes, coupons, drafts, bills of lading, railway receipts, warrants, certificates, scrips and other instruments and other securities whether transferable or negotiable or not;
(iv)The granting and issuing of letters of credit, travellers` cheques and circular notes and to do all forms of foreign exchange business;
(v) The buying, selling and dealing in bullion and species on behalf of member customers;
(vi)The acquiring, holding, issuing on commission, underwriting and dealing in stock, funds, shares, debentures, debenture stock, bonds, obligations, securities and investments of all kinds;
(vii)The purchasing and selling of bonds, scrips of other forms of securities on behalf of constituents or others, the negotiating of loans and advances.
(viii)The receiving of all kinds of bonds, scrips and valuables on deposit or for safe custody or otherwise;
(ix)The providing of safe deposit vaults;
(x) The collecting and transmitting of money and securities;
(xi) Acquiring and holding and generally dealing with any property or any right, title or interest in any such property which may form the security or part of the security for any loans and advances or which may be connected with any such security;
(xii) Carrying on and transacting guarantee and indemnity business, on behalf of the constituents in the ordinary course of banking business and to provide necessary cash margin to facilitate such business;
(xiii) Opening Branches, Extension Counters and Sub-Officers or any Office and ATM centers or to have arrangement of ATMs of other Banks etc. as per the norms of the Reserve Bank of India.
(xiv) Subject to the previous approval of the Central Registrar establishing and supporting or aiding in the establishment and support of associations, institutions, funds, trusts and conveniences calculated to benefit members, employees, ex-employees of the bank or the dependents or connections of such persons granting pensions and allowances and making payments towards insurance, subscribing to or guaranteeing monies for charitable benevolent object or for any exhibition or for any public, general or useful object;
(xv)Undertaking and executing trusts, undertaking the administration of estates as an executor, trustee or otherwise, with the previous permission of the Central Registrar;
(xvi)The acquisition of land/buildings, construction, maintenance and alteration of any land/building or works necessary or convenient for the purposes of the Bank;
(xvii) To act as Insurance Agent as per norms of RBI and IRDA;
(xviii)To promote one or more subsidiary institutions which may be registered under any law for the time being in force for the furtherance of its stated objects;
(xix) Any other form of business which the Central or the State Governments may specify as a form of business in which it is lawful for a banking institution to engage;
(xx) Doing all such other things as are incidental and conducive to the promotion or advancement of the business of the Bank;
§  To amalgamate with another Bank with same or similar objects;
§  To engage in Credit/Debit cards;
§  To do merchant banking business;
§  To takeover another society with similar object;
§  To develop market information system, logo brand promotion, quality control and technology up gradation;
§  To enter into participation, consortium arrangement with bank/s or financial institutions with objects of making loans and advances;
§  To act as agents for collection of moneys of various government quasi government and statutory bodies.

For more information visit the official website - http://www.apmaheshbank.com

Indian Co-operative Credit Society Ltd.

 Indian Co-operative Credit Society



Indian Co-operative Credit Society Ltd. (www.iccsl.in) is a unique Business Family owned by our Members including: Advisors, Employees and Share holders. ICCSL is governed under the Multi-State Cooperative Society Act, 2002 and is defined as a financial organization managing financial transactions amongst its members under the act of Cooperatives Societies. The society is registered under Government of India, Multi-States Cooperative Societies Act 2002 with registration No. MSCS/CR/77/98 (Please read the Group Profile, given on page down below).

The Government of India has formed rules to ensure the security of the member-deposits with Credit Cooperative Societies and it is mandatory by law for all registered societies to operate within those regulatory acts. ICCSL follows all existing parameters of fund sufficiency and is bound to pursue those formed by Government of India. The accounts of society are subject to audit by audit department and audit reports are then submitted to Registrar Office for their governance.

ICCSL is authorized to take deposit from its members (As per Bylaw registered with Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operation, Govt of India, New Delhi), and it issue Deposit Receipts (DR) with a guaranteed rate of interest, which is very fair and legal. ICCSL accepts term deposits, as per the bylaw and also it offers complete banking solutions like daily deposits, short term deposits, long term deposits, monthly income plans, recurring deposits, current account, saving account and loans to our members.

Corporate Approach: A cooperative society is a social enterprise, where a group of individuals with common objective come together and 'co-operate' with each other to achieve that objective. Indian Co-operative Credit Society Ltd., is one such voluntary association whose main objective is to provide support to its members. We are not established to earn profit, but to provide the benefits of togetherness. We sincerely promote the TEAM phrase "Together Each-one Achieves More". Keeping the co-operative principles in forefront, ICCSL works as a fully democratic organization. Its governance & policies are transparent and are managed by the ‘Board of Directors’ elected by it members. The elections are normally conducted in the Annual General Meeting each year for filling up vacant posts.



ICCSL offers credit to worthy people from different strata of life. We provide loans in small amount to small time traders; low income businessmen; salaried individuals; housewife's etc. to enable them to meet their various financial requirements.

We also provide various banking solutions like deposits, saving accounts and monthly income schemes to our members and have introduced series of deposits that cater to various financial goals within a family, like children's education, daughter's marriage, retirement plan etc.

Apart from banking solutions, other upcoming services at ICCSL include Air and Rail ticket booking, utility bill payment, tour packages, hotel booking etc. Indian Co-operative Credit Society Ltd. is structured to be a dynamic, democratic, member-owned and socially responsible entity with a primary purpose of providing high-quality and fairly priced financial services. ICCSL is committed to promote, coordinate, and expand economic opportunity for members through a growing network. It envisions transforming cooperatives into safe and sound financial institutions that would cater quality services and safeguard members' money.

ICCSL VISION: The ICCSL vision is to make financial services universally available; and to promote poverty alleviation through the development of a strong, sustainable economic infrastructure, using financially sound market mechanisms’.

To instil the Co-operative Spirit as a way of life;

To provide the best benefits and assistance possible;

To serve our members as none other than our own family members

To improve our member’s economic and social well being

To increase leadership through participation in the affairs of the Co-operative

To promote a sense of belonging for the Co-operative and

To co-operate with other Co-operative and organizations to strengthen the Co-operative principles.

ICCSL CO-OPERATIVE VALUES SELF-HELP – Believe in helping people to help themselves to grow and achieve economic and social independence. SELF-RESPONSIBILITY – ICCSL Take responsibility for, and encourage our members to be responsible for their actions, as well. EQUALITY – All members are equal in ICCSL , irrespective of their monetary standings EQUITY – ICCSL conduct our businesses in a fair and unbiased way DEMOCRACY – ICCSL Members have a say in the way we run our businesses SOLIDARITY – ICCSL share common principles, values, interests and purposes with our members and other co-operatives.

Celebrate the International Day of Co-operatives!

International Co-operative Day

Celebrate the International Day of Co-operatives!

The International Co-operative Day is an annual celebration of the co-operative movement happening on the first Saturday of July since 1923 by the Alliance.
On December 16, 1992, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed in resolution 47/90 "the first Saturday of July 1995 to be International Day of Co-operatives, marking the centenary of the establishment of the Alliance." Since 1995 the United Nations' International Day of Co-operatives has been observed jointly alongside International Co-operative Day.
Co-operatives around the world celebrate the day in various fashions and each year the organising institutions agree on a theme for the celebrations.

Previous themes of the International Day of Co-operatives

  • 2017: Co-operatives ensure no one is left behind
  • 2016: Cooperatives: The power to act for a sustainable future
  • 2015: Choose co-operatives, choose equality
  • 2014: Co-operative enterprises achieve sustainable development for all
  • 2013: Cooperative enterprise remains strong in time of crisis
  • 2012: Co-operative enterprises build a better world
  • 2011: Youth, the future of co-operative enterprise
  • 2010: Cooperative Enterprise Empowers Women
  • 2009: Driving Recovery through Co-operative Enterprise
  • 2008: Confronting Climate Change through Co-operative Enterprise
  • 2007: Co-operative Values and Principles for Corporate Social responsibility
  • 2006: Peace-building through Co-operatives
  • 2005: Microfinance is OUR business! Cooperating out of poverty
  • 2004: Co-operatives for Fair Globalisation: Creating Opportunities for All
  • 2003: Co-operatives Make Development Happen!: The contribution of co-operatives to the United Nations Millennium Development Goals
  • 2002: Society and Co-operatives: Concern for Community
  • 2001: The Co-operative Advantage in the Third Millennium
  • 2000: Co-operatives and Employment Promotion

Saturday 16 September 2017

අද 2017. සැප්තැම්බර් 16.......
ඌව වෙල්ලස්සට අද අභිමානවත් දිනයක්....
වර්ෂ 200 පෙර අදවන් දිනක,
1817. සැප්තැම්බර් 16.......
ඌවේ ඒජන්ත ලෙස කටයුතු කල සිල්වෙස්ටර් ඩග්ලස් විල්සන් නම් ඉංග්‍රිසි ජාතිකයා වෙල්ලස්සේ දක්ෂ දුනුවායෙකුව සිටි හිටිරාල ගේ හී පාහරින් මිය ගිය දිනය අදයි.....
නිල වශයෙන් ඌව වෙල්ලස්ස විමුක්ති අරගලය ඇරඹු දිනය .... අද

කිවුලේගෙදර මොහොට්ටාල
කැටකැල මොහොට්ටාල
කොහොකුඹුරේ රටේරාල
බුලුපිටියේ මොහොට්ටාල...... වැනි සිංහල විමුක්ති අරගලයට නායකත්නය දුන් සියල්ලන්මද, විමුක්ති අරගලයට දායකත්වය දුන් සියල්ලන්ම ගෞරවබහුමානයෙන් යුත්තව සිහිපත් කරනෙමි.

මෙවන් විරුවන් අවැසි මොහොතක නැවත නැවතත් ඌව වෙල්ලස්ස විමුක්ති අරගලයේ විරුවන් හට උපහාරය පුදකරමු.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c64Q4LoLmeg

Wednesday 30 August 2017

සුභ උපන්දිනයකට ආසිරි.....

ඌව පළාත් සමුපකාර සංවර්ධන දෙපාර්තමේන්තුවේ සහකාර සමුපකාර සංවර්ධන කොමසාරිස්  (පළාත්) ධුරන්දර එච්. එම් දයාරත්න හේරත් මැතිතුමන් හට සුභ උපන්දිනයකට ආසිරි..... එමෙන්ම මොණරාගල දිස්ත්‍රික් සහකාර සමුපකාර සංවර්ධන කොමසාරිස් ධුරයෙන් සමුගෙන  සහකාර සමුපකාර සංවර්ධන කොමසාරිස්  (පළාත්)  ලෙස පත්වීමටද සුභාසිංසන .......


ජයසිද්ධි ධනං ලාභං,
සොත්ථිභාග්‍යං සුඛං බලං,
සිරියායුච වණ්ණෝ ච,
භොග වුද්ධිංච යසවා,
සතවස්සෝච ආයුච ජිවසිද්ධිච හොතු තේ....

ජය ධන ලාභ යහපත වාසනාව ද, සැප බල සිරිය ආයුෂ සිරුර පැහැය ද, සම්පත් යසස දියුණුව ලබමින් නොම ද, සියවස් ආයු ලැබ ඔබ සැරදේ නිබඳ....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSLhieJv-7I

Thursday 10 August 2017

Report shows contribution of co-ops to Sustainable Development Goals

Report shows contribution of co-ops to Sustainable Development Goals

An ICA report shows pledges from the movement on areas such as eradicating poverty, improving gender equality and tackling hunger

Co-operatives play a key role in fulfilling the United Nations’ sustainable development agenda, a new report reveals.
The study, published by the International Co-operative Alliance, is based on pledges made by co-ops from across the world on the Alliance’s Coops for 2030online platform.
Launched on the International Day of Co-operatives on 2 July 2016, the platform enables co-ops to learn about the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), make pledges to help achieve them, and track their progress.
The report highlights the contributions of co-ops in the key areas of action identified under the SDGs. One of these is eradicating poverty.
The report gives the example of Coopermondo, the development NGO of the Confederation of Italian Co-operatives (Confcooperative), which has pledged by 2020 to facilitate at least 10 new co-ops led by youth, women, or indigenous people in developing countries. Coopermondo is well on the way to achieving this, with two projects in Togo and Sierra Leone, plus a network of 113 projects in 42 countries carried out itself or by its associate co-ops.
In Canada, Vancity credit union is the country’s largest private-sector Living Wage employer. As its Co-ops for 2030 pledge, Vancity commits to maintaining this living wage and to advocate for other employers in its service area to join the campaign.
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Another SDG is ending hunger, relevant to the sector with Alliance figures showing that 32% of all co-ops in the world operate in food and agriculture.
Japanese co-op JA Fukushima Mirai will increase by 2020 agricultural production in the region to levels higher than those before the Great East Japan earthquake, recovering farmland which had been contaminated by radioactivity.
The UN is working towards a series of Sustainable Development Goals
In India IFFCO, a fertiliser co-operative federation, pledged to achieve self-sufficiency in food production by making available high-quality fertilisers at the right time and in appropriate quantities throughout the co-operative network.
Similarly, the Rungeto Farmers Co-operative Society in Kenya commits to double its members’ coffee production and sales by 2030 and to increase milk production and income by 70%.
Ensuring healthy lives is another SDG, and health co-ops are important sources of preventative and curative care around the world, providing everything from home care services to full-service hospitals.
Italian energy co-operative Centoraggi pledges to reduce the neonatal mortality rate by developing initiatives by 2030 that will enable the supply of electricity, through renewable energies, to power maternity wards and general healthcare. This initiative is targeted at solar energy projects in Madagascar, Kenya, Ghana, Angola, and other countries, like Brazil, where Centoraggi hopes to expand.
The Mutuelle de Santé Tujenge Afya Yetu in the Democractic Republic pledges to introduce universal healthcare to its members, improving access to care by 50% for the Congolese population through education and creating new mutuals throughout the country.
Providing inclusive and quality education is another SDG; it is also on the co-operative agenda as one of the movement’s seven principles.
Italian social co-operative Copat, which links students to professional opportunities, pledges to increase children’s access to educational activities to learn about cultural heritage and the role of museums as educators. One programme allows children to create eco-friendly art from materials from the Remida Creative Recycling Centre in Turin.
IFFCO, which serves nearly 40 million farmers, is aiming for self-sufficiency in food production
In India the co-operative Rajiv Gandhi Arts and Science College has committed to educating rural degree students about the co-op model and principles, in the hope that these students will create their own economic opportunities by establishing co-operatives.
On the issue of gender equality and women’s empowerment, Co-operatives UK, the national apex organisation representing co-operatives in the UK, has pledged by 2020 to work with its members to achieve the goals of the Co-operative Women’s Challenge, a campaign to see women fairly represented at all levels of the British co-op movement. The goals include fair representation in democratic structures, more women in senior management roles, and gender equality.
Likewise, IFFCO is supporting women’s economic participation in India, promoting self-help groups for women and offering training in beekeeping, tailoring, embroidery, adult education, fruit and vegetable preservation and computer literacy.
The world’s co-ops are also helping with the SDGs by providing decent work as people-centred enterprises.
Femmes CoopCongo in the Democratic Republic of the Congo aims to integrate 20% more women into the national economy through entrepreneurship by 2030.
National Co-operative Federation and Development in the Philippines pledges to enhance the entrepreneurial capacities of its members through gender-sensitive trainings that cover management, finance, marketing, and technical aspects of business.
In Kenya, CIC Insurance Group has pledged initiatives to help young people, such as supporting the secondary education of 10 students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
The report shows how co-ops contribute to other goals, such as providing affordable electricity and clean water; building a resilient infrastructure; inclusive and sustainable industrialisation; reducing inequalities; sustainable cities and communities; sustainable consumption and production; acting on climate change; protecting water and land; promoting peace, justice and strong institutions; and fostering partnerships.
The report, Co-ops for 2030 – A movement achieving sustainable development for all, is available on the Alliance’s website.

Friday 2 June 2017

Inclusion: Theme of the 2017 International Day of Co-operatives

Inclusion: Theme of the 2017 International Day of Co-operatives






"Co-operatives ensure no one is left behind", is the slogan of the 2017 International Day of Co-operatives. 
The theme was selected by the Committee for the Promotion and Advancement of Co-operatives (COPAC), which the Alliance currently chairs.
Inclusion not only captures the people-focused nature of co-operative enterprises, but also echoes the co-operative principles of voluntary and open membership, democratic member control and member economic participation. Co-operatives provide a space where all people, regardless of race, gender, culture, social background or economic circumstance, can meet their needs and build better communities.
The theme of inclusion additionally complements the Alliance’s Global Conference theme: “Putting people at the centre of development”. The Global Conference will take place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 15-16 November 2017.
COPAC will organise the celebration of the International Day of Co-operatives at the United Nations in mid-July during the High-level Political Forum for Sustainable Development, during which governments and UN officials will convene to review implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Should you be interested in attending the UN celebration, please contact Fran McCrae at mccrae@ica.coop.
Stay tuned for information about how to celebrate the International Day and tools for your co-operative. You can also learn about past International Days at www.coopsday.coop

Thursday 25 May 2017

Two million UK users would consider investing in Twitter as a co-op

Two million UK users would consider investing in Twitter as a co-op



With the proposal to turn Twitter into a user owned co-operative on the agenda at Twitter’s AGM on Monday (22 May), new research suggests that in the UK alone nearly 2 million people, 14% of active Twitter users, would consider investing in a user-owned Twitter if it were to become a co-op, as reported in City A.M today.The future of one of the world’s leading social networks has been the subject of speculation for over a year. Twitter’s viability as a business depends on finding new income streams from its users, yet its users expect a no-cost service with minimal advertising. Big questions about the business’s future are hovering as the company’s shareholders gather for the social network’s AGM in San Francisco next week.On the formal agenda is the proposal, item four of just five, to look at preserving Twitter’s reach and popularity by converting it into a user owned co-op where it is the people who use the social network who own and direct what it does.The proposal came from a handful of minority of shareholders, but the idea has gathered momentum in recent weeks, with a number of shareholders and activists backing it. The UK-based activist investor group Share Action has circulated a briefing to leading ethical investment funds.The UK has 14 million active Twitter users. A poll just conducted by YouGov on behalf of Co-operatives UK, the network for the country’s thousands of co-ops, found that 14% of them, 1.96 million Twitter users, would consider investing in the social network if it were to become a co-op. 

Ed Mayo, Secretary General of Co-operatives UK, says:“Twitter is one of a new generation of businesses which do something that goes beyond the market. What future do we want for it? Do we want to try to find ways monetise Twitter in order to provide a return for shareholders? Or do we want to find a way to preserve what its users love? “That Twitter ought to be a user owned co-op is a neat solution.  It will give the platform a network of millions of people who can invest small sums to create a viable business offer. And it will give the people who use it the say over the big issues - how it deals with issues like abuse and extremism, what levels of advertising are acceptable, and what ultimately it does to remain sustainable.”
“Our guidance for Twitter investors, in particular the Socially Responsible Investment funds is to back Proposal 4 to promote a visionary new model of co-operative ownership for Twitter.” Catherine Howarth, Chief Executive of ShareAction

World's top 300 co-operatives increase turnover to $2.53 trillion

World's top 300 co-operatives increase turnover to $2.53 trillion

The world’s largest 300 co-operatives and mutuals have grown their turnover by 7.20 per cent to USD $2.53tn according to the 2016 edition of the World Co-operative Monitor (WCM).Presented at the International Summit of Cooperatives in Quebec, The Monitor remains the only project of its kind, collecting and analysing data on the world’s largest co-operative and mutual organisations and otherenterprises controlled by co-operatives.

Charles Gould, Director General of the International Co-operative Alliance, said: "The World Co-operative Monitor is now in its fifth year. There is no more appropriate way to celebrate this, than the seven per cent growth figure which we are proudly to announcing this year, and there is no better time than now, during the 2016 International Summit of Co-operatives."There is a growing interest for co-operatives worldwide and we need to respond to this interest with adequate promotion of our model. The World Co-operative Monitor, as the leading data source on the world’s largest co-operatives and mutuals, is a central instrument for awareness raising, policy-making, advocacy and research."Six UK organisation make the top 300. These are John Lewis Partnership (32), The Co-operative Group (35), Royal London (74), LV (123), NFU Mutual (212), Midcounties Co-operative (241) and Central England Co-operative (274). Danish farming co-operative Arla Foods, which enjoys a significant UK arm, is 47th. View the full list here.The Monitor refers to data from 2014, collected from various sources, such as national rankings, sector rankings, existing databases containing financial data, annual reports and questionnaires. In total, 146 questionnaires were completed from organisations in 39 countries, including individual co-operative and co-operative federal bodies. The database for this edition contains information on 2,370 co-operatives from 63 countries. Of these, 1420 co-operatives from across 52 countries have a turnover exceeding USD $100m.The top five co-operatives by turnover are: Crédit Agricole (USD $90.21bn), a network of co-operative banks from France; BVR (USD $70.05bn), Germany’s national association of co-operative banks; Groupe BPCE (USD 68.96bn), also a network of co-operative banks from France; insurer NH Nonghyup (USD 63.96bn), an extension of the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation's financial operation from the Republic of Korea; and State Farm (USD $63.73bn), a mutual from the USA. State Farm was acquired by Desjardins Group in 2014 after the data was collected.The Monitor also lists rankings by turnover based on the ratio to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita, relating the turnover of the co-operative to the purchasing power of the country in which it operates. In this ranking, which highlights the relevance of co-operatives in their countries, NH Nonghyup comes first, followed by Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO), Crédit Agricole, health co-op Unimed of Brazil and Groupe BPCE.The database for this edition contains information on 2,370 co-operatives from 63 countries. Of these, 1,420 co-operatives from across 52 countries have a turnover of over USD $100m. The top 300 co-operatives come from 25 countries and have a combined turnover of USD $2.53 trillion (2,533bn), an increase of 7.20 per cent from the USD $2.36tn reported in last year’s monitor.Over 32 per cent of these operate in agriculture, 39 per cent in insurance, 19 per cent in wholesale and retail trade and 6 per cent in banking and financial services. Some of the top 300 co-ops are also active in the health and social care sector (1%), the industry sector (2%) and other services and activities.The Monitor gathers data on co-operatives across all continents, demonstrating the important role of co-operatives in the world economy. It has become the major global report for analysing the world’s co-operative movement, providing information for research into co-operative business enterprises.A new feature in this year’s monitor is a chapter dedicated to exploring co-operative capital. The chapter focuses on analysing the capital structure of the world’s largest co-operatives

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