INSTITUTO PANAMEÑO AUTÓNOMO COOPERATIVO (IPACOOP)

The Instituto Panameño Autónomo Cooperativo (IPACOOP) is Panama's national autonomous body responsible for cooperative affairs, established under Law No. 24 of 1980, specifically tasked with formulating, directing and implementing national cooperative policy. Its functions include promoting cooperative integration, securing state credit for cooperatives, proposing legislative amendments relating to cooperatives to the administrative authorities, and establishing cooperative training and education centres. As the government's cooperative regulatory body, IPACOOP is an associate member of ICA Americas.