euskalkultura.eus

Santa Fe, Argentina.  As part of the tour coordinated by the Delegation of Euskadi in Argentina-Mercosur, the Basque representatives participated in the 1^st Cooperative Conference in Santa Fe on June 6^th.  In front of hundreds of cooperatives, Maria Ubarretxena delved in to the theory in her talk, “Public/Private Harmonization between the Government and Cooperatives,” while Javier Goienetxea talked about the challenges that face the sector in the 21^st Century.  Danel Ayastuy, Regional Director for South America of Copresi, joined in sharing his experience in the internationalization of a Basque cooperative as a concrete example. 

The conference opened with the formalization of an agreement between the Basque Government and the Government of the Province of Santa Fe that will allows giving a general framework for the development of relations in the social economy between the two administrations.

Without leaving the province of Santa Fe, the Basque representatives visited the city of Sunchales, declared the capital of Argentinean cooperatives and sister city with the basque city of Arrasate-Mondragon since 2007.  There they learned about Sancor Insurance and United Cooperatives Limited (specialized in producing and marketing milk and derivatives), both cooperatives regional leaders in their respective markets. They also visited the headquarters of the Sunchales Cooperative, where they attended the presentation of the President of the institution, Raul Colombetti, and the Secretary of Economic Development and Sunchales Cooperatives, Samuel Delbon. 

Prior to the conference, Ubarretxena and Goienetxea began their visit in the country by participating in the “The Basque Cooperative Experience,” held by the La Plata Senate with Senator Hernan Albizu acting as their host. 

The Basque delegation also met with Patricio Griffin, President of the National Institute of Cooperatives and Economy – INAES; participating at the table with representatives from the Cooperative Confederation of the Argentine Republic – Cooperar; where he was able to get to know the “Media Factory,” as a common enterprise between the INAES and Cooperar. 

Despite the short tour, there was also time for Ubarretxena and Goienetxea to meet with representatives of the local Basque community.  They were welcomed by members of Laurak Bat in Buenos Aires and as well in La Plata at the Euzko Etxea, host of next year’s Semana Vasca in November 2014.