Guillem Llorens’ commitment to the cooperative movement
Guillem Llorens, expert in technical architecture and occupational risk prevention, stands out for his leadership as co-president of the Federation of Labor Cooperatives of Catalonia and president of the Confederation of Cooperatives of Catalonia.
In addition, he is recognized as a founding partner and president of the Sepra cooperative and as head of the Social Economy Association of Catalonia.
The current state of cooperativism in Catalonia
Catalan cooperativism is experiencing a positive moment, with notable success stories in all its forms and areas, reflecting a great diversity that enriches the economic and social panorama of the territory.
Despite the present challenges, the positive evolution of the movement is evident in the 125 years since the first Catalan cooperative assembly, a tradition that needs to be preserved and enhanced to promote cooperative values among the population.
The challenges and opportunities of cooperatives in Catalonia
One of the main challenges is to effectively communicate the benefits of co-operatives to a wide audience, since social and economic changes can be promoted more quickly through this movement.
It is crucial to promote both business and grassroots cooperative initiatives to improve working conditions and promote economic diversity throughout the Catalan territory, contributing to a necessary transformation.
The importance of the visibility of cooperatives
It is essential to increase the visibility of cooperativism to make it a more present reality in the collective imagination, since currently only a small part of the population actively participates in this movement.
We live in a parallel reality that offers us opportunities and well-being, but we must be aware of the need to expand these values to positively influence a greater number of people.
The challenge of the presence of cooperatives in strategic areas
Despite the lack of presence of cooperatives in the industrial sector and other strategic axes, it is important to recognize that the economic diversity of Catalonia does not necessarily have to pass through this area. Initiatives such as the Bloc4BCN stand out as an example of effective cooperative and political work.
Projects driving cooperativeism in Catalonia
Initiatives such as Som Energia stand out as tractor projects that drive the energy transition from a cooperative perspective, demonstrating the capacity for innovation and adaptation of the cooperative movement to current challenges.
The Bloc4BCN also becomes an outstanding example of citizen and political collaboration to achieve common goals together.
Expectations towards public administration
Greater support and promotion of cooperatives is expected from the administration to consolidate it as an engine of social and economic change, recognizing the added value it brings to society as a whole.
The role of cooperative federations and confederations
Federations such as the Cooperatives of Work must continue to work on the creation of spaces for collaboration and inter-cooperation that benefit the entire sector, enhancing trust and synergy between the different entities.
The 125 years of the Confederation of Cooperatives of Catalonia symbolize an important milestone in the history of Catalan cooperatives, highlighting the path taken and the importance of continuing to work on its consolidation and future projection.