East meets West in spirit of co-operation

Representatives from north west companies with links to Japan were the guests at a celebratory dinner at Rochdale’s magnificent town hall

Rochdale’s status as the birthplace of the Co-operative Movement got an international seal of approval this week as the borough played host to a delegation of Japanese business people.

Representatives from north west companies with links to Japan were the guests at a celebratory dinner at Rochdale’s magnificent town hall and also took the opportunity to visit the newly refurbished Pioneers Museum on Toad Lane.

Japan is an ardent supporter of the Co-operative Movement and provides the greatest number of overseas visitors to the museumn that  is situated on Toad Lane on the site of the Pioneers’ first store.

To underline the importance that the nation attaches to co-operation, Commercial Councillor Tonoki from the Japanese Embassy in London joined the delegation to celebrate the borough’s status as the World Capital of Co-operatives.

The dinner at the town hall was hosted by the Mayor, Councillor James Gartside, who said later: “It was wonderful to celebrate our unique role in the birth of the Co-operative Movement in the company of such special guests.

“The last few months have seen Britain raise its profile considerably on the international stage and so it’s a good time to mark the fact that, here in Rochdale, we have our own global achievement to be proud of.”

Among the guests at the event was Dr John Boden, Managing Director of Makin Metal Powders, a Rochdale based business which is a leading global supplier of non-ferrous metal powders used in the automotive, engineering and electronics sectors.

Dr Boden said: “As a Rochdale company with strong Japanese connections I was thrilled to be a part of this international celebration of the Co-operative Movement.

“The borough’s status as the birthplace of the movement is respected around the world by millions of people and we are proud to be based here.”