/R E P E A T -- PwC committed to cooperatives and a proud partner of the Québec International Summit of Cooperatives/

Three PwC leaders will participate in panels and in the presentation of a global study.

MONTRÉAL, Oct. 2, 2014 /CNW/ - PwC is proud to be a partner and a panelist at the second International Summit of Cooperatives, which will be held in Québec City from October 6 to 9, 2014. The Summit offers a biannual gathering for leaders of cooperatives and mutuals to discuss their concerns about their current and future business challenges.

The Summit will feature more than 130 prestigious international speakers – including leaders from PwC – who will moderate discussions on essential elements for increasing the global influence of the cooperative and mutualist model.

Bill McFarland, Senior Partner and CEO of PwC Canada, explains PwC's commitment: "PwC supports cooperatives, with a focus in the financial, agricultural and insurance sectors. We share values around building stronger communities, promoting trust and encouraging innovation and sustainable growth."

PwC's Summit panelists are:

-	Nigel J. Vooght, Global Financial Services Leader, PwC (Free-trade agreements: Challenges and opportunities – October 7, 12:20 p.m.)
-	Bill McFarland, Senior Partner and CEO, PwC Canada (Business opportunities and new markets – October 8, 12:40 p.m.)
-	Yves Pelle, European Leader, Agricultural Cooperatives, PwC France (Securing the food supply chain – October 9, 9:30 a.m. and Action plan for a cooperative decade – October 9, 11:15 a.m.)

For more information on these panel discussions, or to schedule interviews with the speakers or with additional PwC cooperative experts (Jean-Guy Senécal, Sonia Boisvert, Kenneth Hotton, Alain Michaud and Martin Bernier), please contact Valérie Fortin or use the Summit's Collaboration Platform.

PwC panel information:

-	Tuesday, October 7, at 12:20 p.m. – Free-trade agreements: Challenges and opportunities PwC panelist: Nigel J. Vooght, Global Financial Services Leader, PwC
	What impact do these agreements have on cooperatives, specifically with respect to opening negotiations on non-tariff barriers? How should cooperatives prepare? What are the advantages, risks and opportunities? Can they change the course of things?
-	Wednesday, October 8, at 12:40 p.m. – Business opportunities and new markets An event organized by PwC and Desjardins PwC panelist: Bill McFarland, Senior Partner and CEO, PwC Canada
	Emerging countries or emerging markets are fertile areas for the development of global business, but they are often also characterized by a difficult socio-political climate. Do cooperatives and mutuals hold an advantage? What is the key to success? Bill McFarland will address the prospects for Russia and Asia in particular.
-	Thursday, October 9, at 9:30 a.m. – Forum 9: Securing the food supply chain PwC panelist: Yves Pelle, European Leader, Agricultural Cooperatives, PwC France
	What are the responses of agricultural and agri-food cooperatives to securing supply chains that are becoming increasingly global? What funding sources are available to them?
	Yves Pelle will release the conclusions of the PwC global study entitled Securing the Food Supply Chain and Selecting the Appropriate Mode of Financing. He explains: "Based on the conclusions of interviews conducted with more than 30 large cooperatives and experts from around the world, this study presents an in-depth examination of the policies promoting the stability of agricultural markets and the development of world trade. It proposes levers available to agricultural cooperatives to secure their supply chains in the face of the global trends of the next 10 years, which will transform the sector."
-	Thursday, October 9, at 11:15 a.m. – Forum 20: Action plan for a cooperative decade PwC panelist: Yves Pelle, European Leader, Agricultural Cooperatives, PwC France
	This session will evaluate the impact of the remarkable work presented throughout the Summit on creating future initiatives as part of the Detailed Plan. How might some of these studies clarify the identity of the cooperative model? What do the round tables on cooperative approaches teach us about participation and sustainability?

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PwC Canada
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SOURCE: PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers)

Valérie Fortin, T: [phone], ext. 1866, Email: [email protected]; Julie Lussier, T: [phone], Email: [email protected]