From the Newsroom*
São Paulo – The cooperative system in the southern Brazilian state of Paraná ended the year of 2006 with revenues of R$ 16.5 billion (US$ 7.7 billion). The value is the same as that reached in the previous year. The result was considered favourable as the sector faced a series of diversities in 2006, among them climate problems that affected crops and the exchange rates unfavourable for exports.
The figure was disclosed by the Sistema Ocepar, which congregates cooperatives from the state of Paraná. There are in the state 235 cooperatives that bring together 410,000 cooperatives, with an economic turnover that represents 16.5% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the state of Paraná. Cooperatives generate over 783,000 jobs in the state.
*Translated by Mark Ament
