Download application Form
Step I – Hold a meeting
To find out whether there is enough interest to form a co-operative, it is suggested that you invite friends and other people who may be interested to hold a meeting and discuss the idea of setting up of a co-operative.
If there are enough people who are interested, you should discuss the following:-
(a) Exactly what you want the co-operative to do?
(b) How are you going to get the equipment, stock, etc. to get the co-operative started?
(c) How are you going to get the money needed and how much each person should contribute to start the co-operative?
(d) The place where the co-operative will be situated?
More meetings may be necessary to discuss all matters and to make sure that there are still enough interested people.
Step 2 – Choose a Steering Committee
Choose a chairperson (president) and a secretary and other office bearers to sit on a steering
committee.
The steering committee will hold all other meetings that may be necessary.
The steering committee will be responsible for the setting up of the co-operative.
The steering committee will make sure that the co-operative works well and that formation meetings are held.
Step 3 – Contact the Co-operative Societies Section of the Co-operatives Division
The Registration Unit is located at
Ministry of Industrial Development, SMEs and Cooperatives (Cooperatives Division) 3rd Floor, LIC Centre
John Kennedy Street
Port Louis
Tel: 211 7739 (Hot Line)
An officer of the Registration Unit will help you to draw up the Rules and will answer any question you may have.
The rules set out the rights and responsibilities of the members (what they should do as well as what the co-operative is going to do).
The officer will ask for the following information to help draw up the Rules:
(a) The proposed name of the co-operative.
(b) Where the co-operative will be situated?
(c) What the co-operative is going to do and how it is going to reach the goals set?
(d) The plan of action that has been drawn up by the steering committee to get the co-operative started.
(e) The number of persons (management committee) required to manage the co-operative.
(f) The number of persons who are interested in forming the co-operative.
(g) The officer will draw up the Rules to suit your needs.
Step 4 – Describe the aims of the Co-operative
The steering committee must now draw a paper which describes the aims of the co-operative and the kind of business it is planning to undertake. For the sake of good business, the steering committee should compile a business plan, keeping in mind that a co-operative is a business and should therefore be sustainable. The business plan must state how the co-operative will meet its goals with the means available and must also contain at least the following information:
(a) The volume of business the co-operative expects to do;
(b) The funds therefore required to buy the assets needed to run the business; and
(c) Whether experienced people (staff) are available to manage the business.
Step 5 – Hold a Formation Meeting
The steering committee must hold a formation meeting. Choose a President and Secretary for the meeting. The President should state why the meeting is being held and must read out the paper prepared by the steering committee which sets out the aims of the co-operative as well as how it is going to achieve the aims (business prospects). The steering committee should answer all questions about the
co-operative. Those interested should answer all questions about the co-operative. The applicants (i.e. those who have completed applications form) should now choose the board of directors (management committee) of the co-operative. The number to be chosen is stated in the Rules of the co-operative. The co-operative is now legally formed but not registered yet. The Registrar of Co-operative Societies should now register it. Step 6 – First meeting of the Board of Directors
After the formation meeting has been held, a meeting of the members who were chosen as executive members should be held to select a president and a vice-president. This meeting should also appoint the secretary who will be responsible for submitting the application for registration of the co-operative to the Registrar.
Step 7 – How to Register the Co-operative
After the formation meeting has been held (not later than 7 days) you have to apply to the Registrar of Co-operative Societies for registration of the society.
Together with the application for registration, the following should be supplied:
(a) The copy of minutes of proceedings made by the Secretary and signed by him that everything required has been done.
(b) The co-operative project setting out the aims of the co-operative, its business plans as well as statistical proof which shows the project is viable. The President and Secretary must sign this document.
Three copies of Rules of the Co-operative that have been signed on the last page together with the application form signed by at least 10 executive members who have applied to be members of the co-operative, full names and addresses of persons who have applied for membership, the amount paid by each person.
The address where the co-operative is situated as well as the postal address of the co-operative.
Registration Process
It takes about two months for the Registration process to be completed. As soon as the co-operative is registered, the Secretary will receive a certificate that the co-operative is registered as well as one copy of the Rules of the co-operative. The co-operative can now start operating.
The co-operative must inform the Registrar’s office that they have received the certificate of registration as well as one copy of the registered rules.
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