Expansion of Cooperatives in Basilicata: A Notable 38% Growth Recorded in 2024 Over Previous Year
Basilicata, a region in the South of Italy, has experienced a significant increase in new cooperative registrations in 2025, setting it apart from other Italian regions. This surge can be attributed to targeted regional initiatives and funding opportunities aimed at enhancing Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) growth and competitiveness.
The region's active participation in EU-wide projects, such as the Interreg Greece-Italy Programme’s 4th Call for Operations of Strategic Importance, has been instrumental. This call allocated a substantial budget of €5 million to cross-border projects that foster cooperation among institutions in regions including Basilicata, aiming to bolster SMEs and create jobs.
This funding and institutional support have created a conducive environment for cooperatives, which are often SMEs, to form and thrive as part of broader economic resilience strategies in the region. The regional focus on innovation, technology transfer, and competitiveness aligns with broader EU priorities and incentives that encourage new business models like cooperatives.
The Confcooperative Studies & Development Fund report confirms the increase in new cooperative registrations in Basilicata. While the total number of cooperatives in Basilicata before the increase remains unspecified, the report indicates an increase of 38.1% compared to the previous year. This growth trend is observed in various sectors, including traditional cooperative sectors, as well as emerging sectors such as technology, environmental sustainability, sustainable agriculture, cultural industry, tourism, and personal services.
In the national landscape, Basilicata stands out for a significant increase in new cooperative registrations in 2024, with approximately 33,000 active cooperatives in the South, out of a total of 63,000 in Italy. Notably, 52.4% of Italy's active cooperatives are concentrated territorially in the South. However, the positive trend in cooperative births in Basilicata is higher than the national average of 2.7%.
Antonio Candela, president of Confcooperative Lavoro e Servizi Basilicata, emphasises the vitality of the Lucan entrepreneurial fabric and the growing awareness of the value of cooperation as a tool for sustainable and inclusive development. The president's sentiments echo the broader sentiment in Basilicata, where the cooperative model is being embraced as a means to drive economic growth and social inclusion.
In conclusion, the combination of EU-backed financial support, targeted regional policies, and enhanced cross-border cooperation initiatives in Basilicata has driven a surge in cooperative registrations during the International Year of Cooperatives 2025, distinguishing it from other Italian regions that may not have leveraged similar opportunities as extensively. This development underscores the potential for cooperatives to play a significant role in driving economic growth and social inclusion in Basilicata.
- The surge in new cooperative registrations in Basilicarta, a region in Italy, in 2025, offered an opportunity for distinctive growth when compared to other Italian regions.
- The EU-wide Interreg Greece-Italy Programme’s 4th Call for Operations of Strategic Importance played a significant role in providing finance to cross-border projects, thereby fostering cooperation and boosting Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Basilicarta.
- The growth trend in cooperative registrations was noticeable in several sectors, including traditional ones, as well as emerging sectors like technology, environmental sustainability, sustainable agriculture, cultural industry, tourism, and personal services.
- Antonio Candela, the president of Confcooperative Lavoro e Servizi Basilicata, highlighted the vitality of the Lucan entrepreneurial fabric and the growing awareness of cooperation as a tool for sustainable and inclusive development, mirroring the broader sentiment in Basilicarta.
