Vinh City People's Committee dialogues with local cooperatives on linking product consumption with supermarkets

Overview of the meeting on the morning of December 5. Photo: Quang An

Attending the meeting were leaders of the Department of Planning and Investment, Department of Industry and Trade, Department of Natural Resources and Environment, and the Provincial Cooperative Union. On Vinh City's side, there was Mr. Tran Ngoc Tu - Deputy Secretary of the City Party Committee, Chairman of Vinh City People's Committee, representatives of Vinh City departments and cooperatives, supermarkets located in the city.

Delegates attending the meeting. Photo: Quang An

According to the report of Vinh City People's Committee, by August 2020, the city had 87 cooperatives, 39 newly established cooperatives, an increase of 81% compared to 2014; 02 cooperatives were dissolved. Of which, there were 50 non-agricultural cooperatives, 35 agricultural cooperatives and 02 credit funds, with nearly 19,467 members. Total operating capital and asset value of cooperatives was 62,186 billion VND.

Currently, 35 cooperatives (accounting for 37.9%) operate effectively; 39 cooperatives operate averagely (accounting for 44.8%); 12 weak cooperatives (accounting for 13.7%); 3 newly established cooperatives that have not been evaluated account for 3.4%.

Mr. Tran Quang Lam - Vice Chairman of Vinh City People's Committee spoke at the ceremony. Photo: Quang An

The annual contribution of the cooperative sector to the local gross domestic product and the economy reaches 1.87%, with total revenue reaching over VND 89,818 billion; directly creating jobs, increasing income, and improving the lives of more than 15,065 people, with the average income of workers reaching VND 2.7 million/month.

However, the current cooperatives are mainly self-produced and operated on a small scale, without investment cooperation, joint ventures, or associations, or at a very low level. Therefore, theconsumption linkThe distribution of products between cooperatives and supermarkets and product distribution units in the area is currently difficult, the main products are vegetables, fruits, etc.

Mr. Ha Thai Son - Head of Vinh City Economic Department emphasized the importance of linking cooperatives and supermarkets in the city. Photo: Quang An

At the meeting, the representative of Kenh Bac Bridge Market Cooperative said: Currently, the marketNorth Canal Bridgehas seriously degraded, affecting the business and trade of traders and people, but is stuck with procedural issues and does not have a construction permit. Therefore, the Cooperative hopes that the Department of Construction and Vinh City leaders will consider resolving the issue soon to build a new market to ensure safety for people and traders.

A representative of Duc Phong Company Limited said: Currently, the cooperative and craft village sectors are seriously lacking young human resources, leading to a lack of innovation in labor productivity, designs and models, and a lack of competitiveness with regional and international products. In addition, currently, directors and heads of cooperatives do not have many breakthrough initiatives or bold business ideas to revive the cooperative economy, which is gradually "dying young".

A representative of Duc Phong Company Limited said that the cooperative economy is currently facing many difficulties. Photo: Quang An

Regarding the product purchasing unit, BigC Vinh leaders said: Currently, agricultural products and cooperative products account for a very small proportion of the products sold at BigC Vinh. Therefore, cooperatives need to improve product quality, focus on design, packaging, complete certificates, and legal procedures to be able to coordinate with supermarkets and retail systems to consume products in the coming time.

BigC Vinh leaders said that cooperative goods and agricultural products in the area account for a very low proportion of all the items on sale. Photo: Quang An

At the meeting, cooperatives and departments also exchanged, discussed and found solutions to remove difficulties for cooperative economy, promote consumption of cooperative products and craft villages. Based on the comments, comrade Tran Quang Lam - Vice Chairman of the People's CommitteeVinh CityCommitted to recording, accepting and directing the city's specialized departments and branches to consider, respond to and resolve the recommendations of the cooperative.

For issues beyond the city's authority, Vinh City will submit them to provincial departments, branches and sectors to have the most thorough handling plan for cooperatives in the coming time.

Quang An