For non-agricultural cooperatives to develop sustainably

Not only are they pillars of rural areas, non-agricultural cooperatives in Thanh Hoa province are asserting their role as important driving forces in the process of industrialization and modernization. With their astute approach, these non-agricultural cooperative models not only contribute to improving people's income and quality of life but also create sustainable economic value chains.

Báo Thanh Hóa•03/07/2026

Production area of Cu Nham Fish Sauce Cooperative, Tien Trang commune.

According to statistics from the Thanh Hoa Provincial Cooperative Union, as of June 2026, there were nearly 500 effectively operating cooperatives outside the agricultural sector in the province (accounting for more than one-third of the total number of cooperatives in the province). With production and business capital amounting to thousands of billions of VND, these units play a significant role in providing regular employment for tens of thousands of workers, especially in rural and mountainous areas.

Coming from a family with a long tradition of producing fish sauce, Mr. Thach Van Hieu, from Binh village, Tien Trang commune, has always been concerned about creating breakthroughs for the traditional craft, contributing to the economic development of his family and supporting local people to make a living from it. In 2015, Mr. Thach Van Hieu established the Cu Nham Fish Sauce Cooperative with 15 members; at the same time, he promoted the application of science and technology to standardize product standards and quality. As a result, the fish sauce products of the Cu Nham Fish Sauce Cooperative have now achieved OCOP 4-star standard, while shrimp paste and dried shrimp have achieved OCOP 3-star standard.

You may also like

Commend and reward collectives and individuals with outstanding achievements in implementing Directive No. 22-CT/TU.

The top-scoring student in the A00 subject group across the province used AI as a learning aid.In addition to learning from textbooks and materials provided by teachers, Pham Dang Dat uses artificial intelligence (AI) as a learning aid.

The top student has an exceptionally handsome appearance.Khuong Huy Vinh San (a student in class 12C1 at Le Van Huu High School, Thanh Hoa province), the top scorer in the A00 group in Thanh Hoa province and the second-highest scorer nationwide in the A00 group, is not only academically excellent but also passionate about practicing calisthenics (street gymnastics).

Mr. Thach Van Hieu, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Director of Cu Nham Fish Sauce Cooperative, said: "For the cooperative to develop sustainably, it requires creating products with consistent quality; the products must meet food safety and hygiene standards. Along with that, we strive to achieve OCOP certification and maintain our brand. Currently, in addition to traditional distribution channels, we are focusing on bringing our products to e-commerce platforms to expand our customer network and align with market trends."

The Trung Kien Handicraft Cooperative in Hoang Phu commune was established in 2008. It operates in the handicraft sector, primarily producing items such as export-quality bags, box hangers, rattan and bamboo products, and plastic handicrafts. This provides regular employment for 80 workers and creates jobs for hundreds of local laborers during the off-season. The cooperative's revenue is estimated at approximately 2.5 billion VND per year. Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngan, Director of Trung Kien Handicraft Cooperative, said: "In addition to maintaining the craft of weaving plastic baskets and crocheting boxes from the early days of its establishment, the cooperative's leadership regularly participates in workshops and exhibitions to learn and introduce new crafts, and seeks businesses to collaborate with in the production of export goods. Thanks to this, in nearly 20 years since its establishment, the cooperative has expanded its production scale, built a workshop covering over 1,500 square meters, contributing to the introduction of new crafts, higher incomes, and building trust and loyalty among local workers. The cooperative also focuses on building a cohesive work environment and organizing cultural and social activities for its members."

Beyond traditional services, in recent years, non-agricultural cooperatives in the province have affirmed their pivotal role in promoting economic growth and ensuring social welfare. These cooperatives have boldly innovated, effectively mobilizing resources such as land, labor, capital, and technology, closely linked to market value chains. Through the support of the Provincial Cooperative Union, many support and consolidation projects have been widely implemented, helping non-agricultural cooperatives overcome difficulties, expand production scale, and keep pace with the trend of innovation. Currently, there are dozens of successful non-agricultural cooperative models investing in production and business in the province, such as: Tan Son Environmental Sanitation Service Cooperative (Hac Thanh ward); Tan Tho Handicraft Cooperative (Trung Chinh commune); Chung Nghia Trade and Service Cooperative (Ha Trung commune)...

Mr. Le Hong Hai, Vice Chairman of the Provincial Cooperative Union, said: "In recent times, the activities of non-agricultural cooperatives have been continuously strengthened and innovated. Many cooperatives have focused on mobilizing additional capital contributions and investing in business development, so their operational efficiency has gradually improved. Besides their economic significance, non-agricultural cooperatives have played a social role in providing employment for more than 7,000 regular workers with an average income of over 53 million VND per person per year.”

United States - Vietnam: Don't miss

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs received a copy of the Letter of Credence for the U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam.On the afternoon of July 2nd, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters, Mr. Le Cong Dung, Director of the State Protocol and Foreign Interpretation Department, received a copy of the Letter of Credence from Ms. Jennifer Wicks, Ambassador of the United States of America to Vietnam.

Ambassador Nguyen Quoc Dung visits and works in Minnesota, USA.From June 28-30, the Vietnamese Ambassador to the United States, Nguyen Quoc Dung, paid a visit and worked in Minnesota.

Vietnam encourages US businesses to expand investment in high technology.On the morning of June 26th, at the Government Headquarters, Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung received Mr. Jeff Place, Supply Chain Director of Coherent Group (USA). During the meeting, the Deputy Prime Minister affirmed that Vietnam encourages US businesses to expand investment, especially in high-tech, innovation, and semiconductor industries.

Currently, Thanh Hoa province is promoting support policies; creating conditions for cooperatives to access preferential capital, apply science and technology to management, operation, and e-commerce promotion. Most importantly, non-agricultural cooperatives need to be proactive, flexible, and strive to adapt better to the new context.

Text and photos: Le Thanh

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/de-htx-phi-nong-nghiep-phat-trien-ben-vung-293011.htm