![Türkiye’s New Cooperative Strategy & Increased Support | [Year] Update](https://idsb.tmgrup.com.tr/ly/uploads/images/2025/09/19/thumbs/1200x675/402473.jpg "Türkiye’s New Cooperative Strategy & Increased Support | [Year] Update")
Türkiye unveils Ambitious 5-Year Plan to Empower Cooperatives & Boost economic Resilience
istanbul, Türkiye – President Recep tayyip Erdoğan on Friday announced a thorough five-year strategy designed to significantly strengthen Türkiye’s cooperative sector. The plan, framed as a pathway to “fairness and collective strength,” promises expanded financial support, modernized legislation, and a renewed focus on empowering small producers, women, and youth across the nation.
This initiative comes at a pivotal moment, as cooperatives globally are gaining prominence as a vital counterweight to the pressures of unchecked market forces. Erdoğan highlighted the role cooperatives play in fostering local progress and providing a crucial safety net for vulnerable populations. “A small producer, a young farmer, a woman entrepreneur – all are stronger under the roof of a cooperative than they are alone,” he stated during the launch ceremony in Istanbul.
The Rise of Cooperatives: A Global Trend
Türkiye’s commitment to the cooperative model aligns with a growing international movement. Currently, the country boasts 62,000 cooperatives serving over 6.5 million members – a significant base, but one Erdoğan acknowledges lags behind the European Union’s 250,000+ cooperatives and 165 million members.
Globally, the cooperative sector is a significant economic force. The international Cooperative Alliance reports approximately 3 million cooperatives worldwide, representing 12% of the global population and generating a combined turnover exceeding $2.4 trillion. This surge in cooperative activity is largely driven by a desire for economic security and protection from the volatility of “wild capitalism” and the pricing power of large multinational corporations.
The timing of this strategy is particularly noteworthy, as the United Nations has designated 2025 as the international Year of Cooperatives, providing a global platform to champion the cooperative model. Türkiye intends to leverage this opportunity to further cultivate a strong cooperative culture.
A Five-Pillar Strategy for Growth (2025-2029)
The newly unveiled 2025-2029 Cooperative Strategy and Action Plan is built around five key pillars:
* Creating a Favorable Environment: Streamlining regulations and reducing bureaucratic hurdles to encourage cooperative formation and growth.
* Modernizing Legislation: Updating legal frameworks to reflect the evolving needs of the cooperative sector.
* Boosting Digitalization: Investing in technology and digital infrastructure to enhance cooperative efficiency and reach.
* Introducing New Cooperative Models: Exploring innovative cooperative structures to address emerging economic challenges.
* Enhancing Capacity: Strengthening the institutional and financial capabilities of
