ICOPED is now a registered Co-operative Marque user

A slogan of ICOPED using the Co-operative Marque

The Institute of Cooperatives and Bio-Enterprise Development (ICOPED) is now an officially registered user of global Co-operative Marque. ICOPED is one of the 43 cooperatives, organizations and cooperative advocates using the Co-operative Marque in the Philippines. Other registered users include the National Confederation of Cooperatives, Philippine Cooperative Center, Sorosoro Ibaba Development Cooperative and Tagum Cooperative, among others. 

In the next few months and years, ICOPED will be seen using the Co-operative marque in its website, publications, advertisement and communication materials and so on. This is one of its ways to support and strengthen cooperatives as distinct model of enterprise.

The Co-operative Marque, which was launched during the International Cooperative Alliance Conference and general assembly in Cape Town in November 2013, is a strategy of the International Co-operative Alliance to offer greater visibility for the co-operative model. It aims to help make more people aware of the cooperatives and the cooperative identity, which forms a key pillar of the Blueprint for Co-operative Decade. As stated by Ed Mayo, an early pioneer of the Fairtrade mark, "The beauty of the Co-operative Marque is that it is a symbol that echoes the co-operative model wisely and is a great device for spreading awareness."

At present, there are already more than 2,500 registered Co-operative Marque users from 105 countries globally. (KPQuilloy)

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