The role of Cooperative Union in economic development

Over 31 years of construction and development (October 29, 1993 - October 29, 2024), the Thanh Hoa Provincial Cooperative Union has not only clearly demonstrated its role as a "facilitator" for cooperatives and cooperative groups, but also created jobs and ensured livelihoods for members and workers in the collective economic sector, contributing to the overall socio-economic development of the province in a sustainable direction.

Chairman of the Cooperative Union Nguyen Dinh Tuan inspects the distribution of livestock in the implementation of the sustainable poverty reduction project.

In recent years, the Provincial Cooperative Union has effectively fulfilled its function of representing and protecting the legitimate rights and interests of its members, becoming a solid support for cooperatives and cooperative groups. Through the "support" from the Provincial Cooperative Union, many units have exploited the potential and strengths of the locality to develop production and business in the direction of regional linkages and commodity production along the value chain.

With the support and guidance of the Provincial Cooperative Union, many new cooperative models have been established, suited to the practical needs of the locality. The activities of cooperatives are increasingly expanding towards multi-sectoral, multi-occupational, and multi-service operations. As a result, the cooperative economy has become a channel for mobilizing resources from the people to develop production and business, create jobs, increase income, contribute to poverty reduction, restructure agriculture and build new rural areas, and promote socio-economic development.

The Dong Tien Agricultural Mechanization Service Cooperative (Dong Son) is a prime example of an effective and sustainable cooperative model, thanks to the support of the Provincial Cooperative Union. Established in 2012, it specializes in the production and consumption of vegetables, fruits, and flowers. With the goal of developing high-tech agriculture and providing comprehensive mechanization services for agricultural production, the cooperative has invested significant resources in infrastructure development, technology transfer, and the purchase of machinery and equipment. According to the cooperative's director, Nguyen Xuan Thien: "With a considerable need for capital to invest in production and service development, after joining the Provincial Cooperative Union, from 2018 to the present, the cooperative has consistently accessed preferential loans from the Cooperative Development Support Fund and local agricultural development support programs." In addition, every year, the cooperative participates in numerous training courses, technology transfer programs, market access initiatives, brand building and product promotion, and human resource training organized by the Provincial Cooperative Union. Through these programs, the cooperative gains both economic resources and the skills and knowledge to develop its production and business effectively.

Reportedly, after more than a decade of development, the Dong Tien Agricultural Mechanization Service Cooperative has invested in building 37,000 square meters of greenhouses. Simultaneously, it has invested billions of VND to purchase 4 straw baling machines, 1 combine harvester, 1 seedling planter, 2 transplanters, 2 plows, and built a system of warehouses and showrooms to introduce its products, creating regular jobs for 10 workers and dozens of seasonal workers.

As the director of a highly influential cooperative that provides employment for hundreds of rural workers, Ms. Nguyen Thi Tham, Director of Tan Tho Handicraft Cooperative (Nong Cong district), always participates in and supports the activities of the Provincial Cooperative Union. Ms. Tham stated: "Every year, the cooperative's management staff, members, and workers take turns participating in training courses organized by the Provincial Cooperative Union to improve management capacity, production and business development skills, and the application of digital technology. This is not only an opportunity to enhance the skills and knowledge of workers and managers within the cooperative, but also a chance to network, connect, and find labor sources and markets for our products. Currently, through the Cooperative Union and other organizations, the cooperative has built a large-scale production facility, creating jobs for approximately 400 workers."

With the guidance and support of the Provincial Cooperative Union, the activities of cooperatives are no longer limited to a few sectors but have expanded to many fields. According to statistics, in the past period, the Provincial Cooperative Union has organized 195 training courses for 15,618 cooperative managers and members; organized for 140 cooperatives to participate in trade promotion fairs organized by the Vietnam Cooperative Union, the Provincial People's Committee, and localities; and developed 117 cooperative models linked to value chains. At the same time, the Cooperative Development Support Fund was directed to provide consulting, support, and loans to 214 projects and plans of cooperatives and cooperative members, with a total loan amount of 70.762 billion VND, enabling cooperatives and cooperative members to have capital for investment, expansion of production and business, and development of OCOP products... As a result, many effective cooperative models have become advanced examples in the cooperative economic sector nationwide, such as: Phu Loc Agricultural Service Cooperative (Hau Loc), Chung Nghia General Production and Trade Cooperative (Ha Trung), Dinh Tuong People's Credit Fund (Yen Dinh), Tan Son Environmental Sanitation Cooperative (Thanh Hoa City)...

Chairman of the Thanh Hoa Provincial Cooperative Union, Nguyen Dinh Tuan, stated: In the coming time, the Thanh Hoa Provincial Cooperative Union will continue to do a good job of advising, participating in the development and implementation of policies and laws on the development of the cooperative economy and cooperatives; consolidating and promoting the role of a "facilitator" for the cooperative economy and cooperative sector and representing the legitimate rights and interests of member cooperatives. At the same time, it will focus on emulation and reward programs to replicate exemplary cooperative and cooperative group models, increase income for workers, and make a significant contribution to the successful implementation of the province's overall socio-economic development tasks and goals.

Text and photos: Le Hoa

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/vai-role-of-cooperative-alliance-in-the-development-of-economic-and-social-economic-228940.htm