Co-operatives are well-tested and proven social enterprises regulated by the Co-operative Act and governed by their own by-laws which would include doing social good in Singapore.

The Co-operative Movement brings together over 1 billion people around the world. The United Nations estimated in 1994 that the livelihood of nearly 3 billion people, or half of the world's population, was made secure by co-operative enterprises which continue to play significant economic and social roles in their communities.

In 2011, collective revenue of the world's largest 300 co-operatives is worth USD 1.6 trillion, comparable to the world's 9th largest economy, Spain.

In recognition of the social and economic contribution of co-operatives, the United Nations declared year 2012 as the "International Year of Co-operatives", themed, "Co-operative Enterprises Build a Better World".

The stamp series consist of 5 milestones in the Singapore Co-operative Movement: 1844: Founders of the Rochdale Principles, 1925: Birth of Singapore's First Co-operative, 1969: Birth of NTUC Co-operatives, 1980: Birth of the Singapore National Co-operative Federation, and 2012: Singapore Celebrates the International Year of Co-operatives.

Special thanks to Singapore National Co-operatives Federation Ltd for the provision of research materials for the stamp issue.