Nghe An: Nearly 62% of cooperatives operate effectively and are linked to trade promotion.
On the morning of October 28th, the People's Committee of Nghe An province held a conference to summarize the implementation of the Project "Continuing to innovate and develop the collective economy of the province in the period 2021-2025" (Project 1958) and the Trade Promotion Program associated with the Cooperative Economic Forum and Cooperatives in the period 2020-2025.
The conference was chaired by Comrade Nguyen Van De – Member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, and Head of the Provincial Steering Committee for the Development of Collective and Cooperative Economy. Also attending were representatives from the Standing Committee of the Provincial Fatherland Front, leaders of relevant departments and agencies; and representatives from mass organizations such as the Provincial Farmers' Association and the Provincial Women's Union.
T200 new cooperatives were established.
The conference provides an opportunity for exemplary cooperatives to share experiences and effective production models, while also proposing solutions to overcome difficulties and further strengthen the collective economic sector.
According to the Provincial People's Committee's report, after 5 years of implementation, the basic goals and targets of Project 1958 have all achieved positive results. 200 new cooperatives have been established in the province, raising the total number of effectively operating cooperatives to 61.8%, an increase of more than 10% compared to before the project. In particular, the province has issued policies to support the establishment of new agricultural cooperatives; during the 2021-2025 period, 158 cooperatives received support totaling over 7.7 billion VND.
Despite the achievements, some limitations remain: Targets have not yet been met, such as the low percentage of rural laborers participating in cooperatives and the low average income of cooperative workers. By 2025, the average income of a regular cooperative worker is projected to be 5.5 million VND/person/month, falling short of the project's target (7-8 million VND/person/month).
In particular, the management capacity of cooperative staff is still weak, and access to policies on land, capital, digital transformation, and trade promotion remains a major bottleneck.
Regarding the trade promotion program associated with the Cooperative Economic Forum, after 6 years of implementation, Nghe An has organized and co-organized 43 trade promotion activities. These include 6 regional-scale trade promotion conferences, 4 green fairs, 5 rural markets, and participation in 28 trade fairs outside the province. Through these activities, hundreds of OCOP products and regional specialties from Nghe An have been promoted, introduced, and sales contracts have been signed.
TCreating favorable conditions for the sustainable development of cooperatives.
Speaking at the conference, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Van De acknowledged and highly appreciated the achievements in the field of collective economy and trade promotion in the past period.
To further develop and improve the operational efficiency of cooperatives, including trade promotion activities of the collective economic sector and cooperatives, in the coming period, the Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee requested provincial departments and agencies, and the Provincial Cooperative Union to focus on effectively implementing a number of tasks:
The Provincial Cooperative Union, along with relevant departments, agencies, and localities, will continue to closely adhere to Resolution 20-NQ/TW, the 2023 Cooperative Law, and the Strategy for the Development of the Collective Economy until 2030; focusing on improving the quality of operations, developing diverse cooperative models suitable for each region; strengthening training and education for management staff; and promoting the application of science and technology and digital transformation in production, processing, and trade promotion.
The Cooperative Union is tasked with leading the development of a plan for the development of the cooperative economy and cooperatives for the period 2026–2030, focusing on key tasks such as: raising awareness about the collective economy through propaganda, providing legal support, promoting value chain linkages, enhancing competitiveness, and connecting to markets.
The Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee affirmed: "The collective economy, with cooperatives as its core, will continue to be an important pillar of the local economy. Nghe An is determined to support, remove difficulties, and create favorable conditions for cooperatives to develop sustainably, contributing together with the state economy to become a solid foundation of the national economy."
On this occasion, the Provincial People's Committee awarded Certificates of Commendation to 10 collectives and 10 individuals who have achieved outstanding results in directing and organizing the implementation of collective economic development in the province during the 2021-2025 period.
