Providing 2.59 million jobs

Cao Xuan Thu Van, Chairwoman of the Vietnam Cooperative Alliance, said that in recent years, the Party and the State have issued and put into effect numerous policies to develop the collective and cooperative economy, a notable one of which is Resolution No.20-NQ/TW of the 13th Party Central Committee’s Politburo. The National Assembly has issued the Cooperative Law 2023, taking effect as from July 1, 2024, which institutionalizes eight groups of key policies outlined in Resolution No.20-NQ/TW.

Over 14,000 OCOP products nationwide have been rated three stars or higher - photo: Do Nga

Reports by 63 provincial and municipal cooperative alliances show that by the end of June 2024, the country had had 32,688 cooperatives with more than 6.94 million members and 2.59 million employees, a total chartered capital exceeding VND58.2 trillion (VND1.91 billion per cooperative on average), and a total asset value of more than VND191 trillion.

The collective and cooperative economic sector has contributed four percent to Vietnam’s gross domestic product (GDP), according to data of the General Statistics Office of Vietnam (GSO). Cooperatives’ products have become increasingly diverse, many of which have better met market demands. The One Commune One Product (OCOP) program has attracted over 5,300 registered entities, 38.1 percent of which are cooperatives, Van said.

Cooperatives have been contributing to improving OCOP products in terms of both quantity and quality. With the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development’s support, the Vietnam Cooperative Alliance has been developing OCOP products as a way to strengthen the collective and cooperative economy.

Vietnam has so far developed over 14,000 3-star or higher-ranking OCOP products. Specifically, 72.1 percent of the products are 3-star, 25.8 percent are 4-star, and 2.1 percent are 5-star or potential 5-star products).

Among more than 7,800 OCOP entities, 32.8 percent are cooperatives. Nearly 2,500 cooperatives have developed OCOP products, Van said. They have been promoting product marketing and branding while developing products meeting the standards, she added.

However, according to Van, alongside the achievements that have been made, OCOP products are still struggling to find markets, especially in their efforts to reach export targets. This is a concern for many cooperatives and OCOP stakeholders.

VIETNAM OCOPEX creates opportunities to boost sale of OCOP products - photo: Do Nga

Promoting trade to unlock market access for OCOP products

To support and promote the development of cooperatives in general and to find markets for OCOP products in particular, Van emphasized that, in addition to strengthening communications and participating in the formulation of policies and guidelines to promote the collective economy, the Vietnam Cooperative Alliance will pay special attention to trade promotion activities. This will be considered a key task to help cooperatives resolve bottlenecks in selling their products.

The year 2024 has been designated by the Vietnam Cooperative Alliance as a year of trade promotion for cooperatives, featuring a wide range of activities, such as fairs, exhibitions, forums, supply-demand connection conferences, brand building and development, and trade promotion on digital platforms.

From October 31 to November 4, the Vietnam Cooperative Alliance, in coordination with the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, organized the OCOP Export Product Exhibition - VIETNAM OCOPEX 2024. This meaningful activity provided cooperatives with opportunities to promote and showcase their products, explore and expand markets, and foster cooperation with both domestic and international partners.

To further develop and enhance the efficiency of cooperatives in accordance with Resolution 20-NQ/TW of the 13th Party Central Committee, Van emphasized the need for the active involvement and support of authorities at all levels, especially those from the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, sectors, localities, and economic organizations.

In 2025, the Vietnam Cooperative Alliance will host and coordinate various trade promotion activities, including the Annual Conference of the Asian Farmers’ Group for Cooperation (AFGC). The Alliance will collaborate with the International Cooperative Alliance - Asia and Pacific (ICA-AP) to invite member organizations from the region to participate in activities, such as the Asia-Pacific Trade Promotion Fair and OCOP Product Showcase, combined with the ceremony launching the International Year of Cooperatives 2025 to be organized by the Vietnam Cooperative Alliance.