Spain's La Rioja and Chile launch new support measures for cooperatives

The regional government of La Rioja in Spain reaffirmed its commitment to the cooperative sector by hosting a forum on the future of cooperatives and announcing a €114,100 grant program to bolster cooperative enterprises, especially in rural areas. Officials highlighted the role of cooperatives in creating stable employment and sustainable regional growth, citing 68 active non‑agricultural cooperatives with 449 members.

In Chile, Agriculture Minister Jaime Campos signed a decree establishing a public‑private technical committee to strengthen agricultural and rural cooperatives. The committee brings together 24 organizations from the cooperative sector, government, academia and international bodies to develop a collaborative agenda addressing financing, commercialization, and technological innovation for small and medium producers.