Going Global Without Losing the Cooperative Identity: A Roadmap for Internationalizing Cooperatives

By : Krisna P. L., MBA

Staf Ahli Bidang Kerja Sama Internasional

LAPENKOP – DEKOPINWIL Jawa Timur

Abstrak

Globalisasi mendorong koperasi untuk menjadi lebih kompetitif, profesional, dan terhubung dengan pasar internasional. Namun, semakin jauh koperasi bergerak ke pasar global, semakin penting pula pertanyaan: bagaimana koperasi dapat menjadi global tanpa kehilangan jati dirinya? Artikel ini berargumen bahwa internasionalisasi tidak harus berarti meninggalkan nilai-nilai koperasi. Sebaliknya, prinsip demokrasi, solidaritas, kepemilikan anggota, dan manfaat bersama dapat menjadi fondasi untuk membangun koperasi yang berakar secara lokal tetapi mampu bersaing secara global.

Cooperatives have long played an important role in promoting inclusive economic development by enabling people to work together, pool resources, and improve their economic position. Today, however, the global economy is changing rapidly. 

Digitalization, shifting consumer preferences, global value chains, and increasing international competition are creating both opportunities and challenges for cooperatives. 

The International Cooperative Alliance (ICA), through its 2026–2030 strategy, has emphasized the importance of strengthening cooperative competitiveness, innovation, market participation, and cooperation among cooperatives.

Despite their significant economic and social potential, many cooperatives remain primarily focused on local or domestic markets. Limited knowledge of international markets, inadequate product standards, weak branding, limited access to export financing, and insufficient managerial capabilities can prevent cooperatives from becoming internationally competitive.

The challenge, therefore, is not simply to increase the number of cooperatives, but to develop cooperatives that are professionally managed, market-oriented, technologically capable, and ready to participate in global value chains.

Internationalization should not mean abandoning cooperative identity. On the contrary, cooperative principles can become a foundation for building stronger international businesses.

Through cooperation among cooperatives, members can achieve economies of scale, share knowledge, develop joint marketing strategies, and access international markets more effectively. This approach is consistent with the ILO’s Recommendation No. 193, which recognizes the importance of market access, institutional support, capacity development, and greater international cooperation for the advancement of cooperatives. From a policy perspective, governments and cooperative institutions should establish a Cooperative Internationalization Framework. Such a framework could include export-readiness programmes, international market intelligence, product certification and standardization, digital transformation, access to trade finance, international business matching, and partnerships with foreign cooperatives and business organizations. 

Diplomatic missions and economic diplomacy networks should also be more actively connected to cooperative development by facilitating market information, business contacts, investment opportunities, and cross-border partnerships. 

This would allow cooperatives to move from being primarily local economic institutions toward becoming competitive participants in international trade.

In conclusion, the future of cooperatives should not be defined by geographical boundaries. Cooperatives can remain deeply rooted in their communities while simultaneously becoming globally connected and competitive. The strategic objective should therefore be to build cooperatives that combine local ownership with global market access, cooperative values with professional management, and social purpose with international competitiveness.

For emerging economies such as Indonesia, internationalizing cooperatives could become an important pathway toward inclusive growth, stronger local enterprises, and greater participation in the global economy.(*)