The International Co-operative and Mutual Insurance Federation (ICMIF) will be working with another international trade body to represent mutual insurance companies globally.
At a recent meeting with the Association Internationale des Societes d'Assurance Mutuelle (AISAM), the organisations explored ways to collaborate more closely on common issues facing insurers worldwide.
They will now set up a joint working group to review and work with the European Union on the proposed European Mutual Statute.
They are also considering merging the trade bodies' two Brussels representative offices.
ICMIF chief executive officer Hans Dahlberg said: "With a number of organisations already belonging to both trade bodies it made sense for us to get together to examine ways in which we could work together to the benefit of all our members and to tackle important common issues."
