I am Lawrence Bale, President of the South African National Apex Cooperative (SANACO), the national umbrella body representing and advocating for cooperatives across South Africa. Since SANACO’s establishment in 2008, I have dedicated myself to building a strong, united cooperative movement that speaks with one voice at municipal, provincial, national, regional, and international levels. Over the years, I have had the privilege to chair the SADC Cooperative Federation and serve within platforms such as the BRICS Cooperative Leaders forum, where I have championed trade partnerships, knowledge exchange, and cooperation between South Africa, China, India, and other global partners. My leadership is driven by a passion to see cooperatives recognized as a vital tool for inclusive economic growth. I continue to advocate for stronger institutional support, policy recognition, funding mechanisms, and skills development so that cooperatives across the country can thrive and contribute meaningfully to our nation’s economy and communities.