To develop cooperatives effectively and sustainably in the new context

Cooperative development cannot avoid the trend of rapid development, especially in product consumption, increasing revenue, improving the quality of life of members, meeting the standards and regulations of products where they want to be consumed... Through adjusting and supplementing policies, along with the tasks assigned by the Government, the Ministry of Planning and Investment has been actively supporting the transformation of thinking and production methods so that cooperatives across the country can continuously produce, develop sustainably, achieve the goal of effective linkage, especially towards NetZero by 2025.

This is the information stated by Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Do Thanh Trung when chairing the International Workshop "Law on Cooperatives 2023 and policy orientations to support the development of the collective economic sector and cooperatives" taking place on the morning of September 19, in Hanoi.

According to Deputy Minister Do Thanh Trung, the practice of developing the collective economic sector in Vietnam still faces many difficulties. In addition to the internal difficulties of collective economic organizations such as low socio-economic conditions of members, the qualifications and capacity of the majority of staff are still weak, the infrastructure, material and technical facilities of cooperatives are poor; State policies have not basically provided much support to cooperatives; cooperatives face difficulties in accessing policies on capital, land, science and technology, markets, etc.

According to Deputy Minister Trung, in the new context, the cooperative movement still has to face many challenges: from the explosive development of the fourth industrial revolution; from increasingly fierce competitive pressure in the market economy; the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is still latent; political instability in the world is still unpredictable; climate change is increasingly complex; the industrialization and urbanization process is taking place at a very fast pace across the country; international integration is increasingly deep, ... requiring the cooperative sector to change and proactively adapt. This poses an urgent requirement for the collective economic sector to change, promote the advantages of association, and cooperate together of each member according to the cooperative model, thereby increasing scale, expanding and improving production efficiency, increasing competitiveness, and developing sustainably in the coming period.

Providing general information about the draft "Decree detailing a number of articles and measures to implement the Law on Cooperatives No. 17/2023/QH15" at the workshop, Mr. Do Manh Khoi, Director of the Department of Cooperative Economics, Ministry of Planning and Investment, said that the Draft Decree consists of 5 chapters, 23 articles and mentions many regulations on supporting cooperatives in particular and collective economy in general to develop in the new context, specifically detailing policies to support human resource development; information support; consulting support; support for replication of effective operating models; support for science and technology, innovation, digital transformation; market access and research; investment in infrastructure development, equipment; financial consulting and risk valuation; activities in the agricultural sector...

On this occasion, Ms. Nguyen Thi Tuyet Minh, Director of the German Cooperative Federation (DGRV) in Vietnam, emphasized that based on the development experience of the German cooperative sector, it can be said that supporting cooperatives in the early stages of establishment plays a relatively important role in the development of cooperatives. Support policies can be understood as specific provisions in the law and their unified application, creating conditions for cooperatives to participate comprehensively in the economy. In addition, cooperatives can also participate in support programs for other types of enterprises when they meet the conditions of the program. Creating a suitable legal framework for cooperatives to access credit can also be considered an important support measure for cooperatives. This helps cooperatives have financial leverage to develop business activities, but does not eliminate the basic principles of the cooperative model, especially the principle of self-reliance.

The workshop listened to the sharing and exchange of opinions of two representatives from Thailand and the Philippines on management experience and policies for cooperative development - two countries in the same Southeast Asian region, with conditions and cultures quite similar to Vietnam, with a strongly developed cooperative sector, providing good support for production and business activities of members, spreading positive impacts to the community, especially in rural and disadvantaged areas. Accordingly, Dr. Jedsadaporn Sathapatyanon, Director of International Relations Group, International Cooperative Agency of Thailand shared about the cooperative model of this country and emphasized that: According to its role and responsibility, the Cooperative Development Agency (CPD) organizes programs and activities to support and promote cooperatives nationwide with 3 main projects including: 1) - supplementing knowledge and enhancing capacity through training and technical assistance by propagating, disseminating, educating the ideology, principles, and methods of cooperatives for cooperative officials, farmer groups and the public. In addition, supporting technology transfer related to production, processing, management and business development of cooperatives and farmer groups; 2) - Monitoring, institutionalizing, registering and strengthening the cooperative system according to the provisions of the Cooperative Law, in which all forms and classifications of cooperatives must be registered with the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives. The head of CPD is appointed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives as Director; 3)- Encourage and support cooperatives in production, collection, processing, marketing and technology development with 2 main projects to support cooperatives in the direction of: supporting machinery and equipment to upgrade production and processing activities of cooperatives and the Cooperative Development Fund (CDF) managed by CPD and serving cooperatives.

Ms. Elizabeth Organo Batonan, Deputy Director of the Bureau of Registration, Supervision and Inspection, Philippine Cooperative Development Authority shared her vision for the development of cooperatives in the country in a way that promotes the viability and growth of cooperatives as instruments of equality, social justice and economic development. Under the country’s laws, the Government and all its departments, agencies, organizations and agencies are mandated to continue to provide technical guidance, financial assistance and other services to help cooperatives develop into viable and responsive economic enterprises towards a strong cooperative movement, free from any conditions that violate the objectives and nature of cooperatives.

Within the framework of the Workshop, delegates from a number of cooperatives and localities in Vietnam discussed and agreed on a number of contents to support cooperatives to develop effectively in the new context, and consider applying circular economy and green economy in cooperative development.

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