Mumbai, India was the venue for the two-day round table dialogue (RTD) on the role of co-operative banks and social finance institutions in promoting and financing social initiatives and Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) enterprises. The event, organised by the Montblanc Meetings, the International Cooperative Banks Association, INAISE and others, was ettended by over 40 representatives from State and Urban Cooperative Banks, National Federation of Urban cooperative Banks, National Cooperative Agriculture & Rural Development Banks’ Federation, National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), National Cooperative Union of India, Annapurna Pariwar, SEWA, IFFCO Foundation, and subject matter experts.

The participants agreed that the cooperative difference lies in bringing attention to members, retaining their trust, and providing services that meet their financial and non-financial needs. Cooperatives are well positioned to do that. Partnerships within social and solidarity economy, particularly between Cooperative Banks, all cooperatives and SSE organizations, can give rise to innovative and integrated solutions to meet people’s needs. Both international and Indian partners agreed to continue dialogue.

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