Do not develop cooperatives based on quantity but focus on efficiency

On the afternoon of September 30, the Provincial People's Committee held a conference to summarize the implementation results of Decision No. 231/QD-UBND on approving the Project on innovation and development of cooperatives in the province for the period 2014 - 2020. Comrade Hoang Nghia Hieu - Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee chaired the conference.

Overview of the conference. Photo: Xuan Hoang

The whole province has 780 cooperatives.

The report of the Provincial People's Committee shows that after 6 years of implementing the Project on innovation and development,cooperative(HTX) Nghe An province in the period of 2014 - 2020, the capacity of cooperatives has been increasingly improved, the organization, management and operation of cooperatives up to now are basically in accordance with the provisions of the Law on Cooperatives 2012. The annual growth rate of the cooperative sector is about 10 - 15%.

Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Hoang Nghia Hieu spoke at the conference. Photo: Xuan Hoang

Up to now, the whole province has 780 cooperatives, of which 419 cooperatives operate effectively in production and business, accounting for 53.72%; 319 cooperatives operate averagely, accounting for 40.80%; 42 cooperatives operate with low efficiency in production and business. The whole province has 335 cooperatives/335 communes and wards with cooperatives operating effectively according to the new rural criteria, accounting for 72.82% of the total number of communes and wards in the province.

Many cooperatives have implemented production and business according to the value chain, helping members feel secure in production. With 59 people's credit funds operating in 153 communes, they have contributed significantly to meeting capital needs for economic development in the agricultural and rural areas.

The growth rate of the cooperative economy is higher year after year, the contribution rate to the province's GRDP is increasing: In 2014, the growth rate was 10% compared to 2013, accounting for 6.1% of the province's GRDP; by 2020, it increased by 15%, accounting for an estimated 7.16% of the province's GRDP.

During the period 2014 - 2020,Provincial Cooperative Unionand related sectors, annually organize and support cooperatives to participate in trade fairs and exhibitions organized by ministries, sectors and localities; link the promotion of the province's tourism image and brand with trade promotion activities to help cooperatives participate in finding markets, partners and consuming products.

Developing brocade weaving in Thai Minh village, Tien Ky commune. Photo: Xuan Hoang

In addition to the achieved results, the Project still has some targets that have not been achieved compared to the plan. That is, the number of newly established cooperatives, the progress of cooperative conversion, up to now there are still 74 communes without cooperatives. The targets of attracting rural laborers to the cooperative sector, income targets, model building targets, and cooperative staff training targets have not been achieved as the Project's targets.

In regions, areas and economic sectors in the province, cooperative economy develops unevenly.

At the conference, there were 6 presentations from local authorities and cooperatives sharing their experiences in operating effectively in a number of business areas. At the same time, recommendations were made to all levels and sectors on a number of necessary issues regarding creating conditions for cooperatives to access loans more conveniently, strengthening training and improving skills for cooperative members; and requesting the province to continue to have appropriate policies to help cooperatives develop more strongly.

Focus on improving collective economy

Speaking at the conference, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's CommitteeHoang Nghia HieuRecognize and commend the achievements of departments, branches, localities at all levels, cooperatives, cooperative unions, people's credit funds, cooperative members and workers who have made efforts to implement and achieve in 6 years of implementing the project.

Activities of Dien Thai Coriander Cooperative (Dien Chau). Photo: Xuan Hoang

At the same time, the Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee pointed out the current shortcomings and limitations of cooperatives, that is, many cooperatives still operate in the style of "old wine in new bottles"; propaganda has not reflected many effective cooperative models.

Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Hoang Nghia Hieu requested that in the coming time, provincial departments, branches, socio-political organizations, Party committees, authorities at all levels, cooperatives, cooperative unions, and people's credit funds must identify tasks in the coming time to continue to pay attention to innovation and improve the efficiency of the collective economy, with cooperatives as the core. This is the task of the entire political system, the responsibility of Party committees and local authorities.

Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Hoang Nghia Hieu awarded Certificates of Merit from the Provincial People's Committee to collectives and individuals. Photo: Xuan Hoang

Strengthen consulting and support work, especially consulting and support on consolidating and streamlining the cooperative leadership apparatus to adapt to the socialist-oriented market economy. Consulting on production and business according to the value chain of local key products.

Develop cooperatives according to the objective requirements of economic laws, not constrained by quantity; link cooperative development with strategies, planning, and socio-economic development plans of each region, each industry, and each locality. Focus on developing forestry cooperatives and medicinal cooperatives in areas with suitable natural and social conditions.

At the conference, the Provincial People's Committee awarded Certificates of Merit to 10 collectives and 10 individuals with outstanding achievements in implementing innovation and development of provincial cooperatives, period 2014 - 2020.

Xuan Hoang