Removing difficulties helps cooperatives develop sustainably

On the morning of April 27, in Tho Thanh commune, Yen Thanh district, the delegation of the provincial National Assembly, including comrades: Nguyen Van Chi - Deputy Chairman of the National Assembly's Finance and Budget Committee; Pham Phu Binh - Standing member of the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs Committee; Thai Thi An Chung - Member of the Provincial Party Executive Committee, Deputy Head of the National Assembly delegation of Nghe An province, had a meeting with voters on the topic of the Law on Cooperatives (amended) before the 5th session of the 15th National Assembly.

National Assembly deputies meet voters in Yen Thanh district. Photo: TL

The conference listened to comrade Thai Thi An Chung - Member of the Provincial Party Executive Committee, Deputy Head of the National Assembly Delegation of Nghe An province inform about the expected content of the program of the 5th session, 15th National Assembly and new points about the Law on Cooperatives (amended).

Difficult access to capital

Reflecting to the National Assembly delegates, representatives of cooperatives in Yen Thanh district proposed and recommended contents related to the effectiveness of cooperatives, cooperative support policies, organizational and operational models, policies on land, capital, finance and consumption markets for cooperative products.

Comrade Thai Thi An Chung - Deputy Head of the Provincial National Assembly Delegation informed about the program of the 5th session of the 15th National Assembly and some new points about the amended Law on Cooperatives. Photo: TL

Regarding internal credit activities, Mr. Ho Sy Quang - Chairman of Tho Thanh Agricultural Cooperative said: To solve the capital problem, some cooperatives have built internal credit. Currently, cooperatives operate internal credit by mobilizing idle capital contributed by members to lend capital to members in the cooperative to develop production.

According to Mr. Quang, internal credit is very suitable for members, especially members in rural areas. Internal credit has become a "salvation" for cooperative members in the context of difficulty in borrowing capital from banks. However, this activity is facing many difficulties because there is no guiding circular, so cooperatives can easily make mistakes and have many potential risks. Therefore, there should be policies to support cooperatives in improving their capacity to develop production and business plans. The revised Law on Cooperatives needs to issue a circular guiding internal credit activities.

Voters of Yen Thanh district proposed policies related to cooperative development to National Assembly delegates. Photo: TL

Also stating that internal credit is very urgent in the context of cooperatives having difficulty borrowing capital through commercial banks, Mr. Chu Minh Ly - Secretary of the Tho Thanh Commune Party Committee said that land leasing, land leasing, and land contribution for cooperatives to operate are facing many difficulties. He suggested that the National Assembly should have appropriate policies and mechanisms to facilitate cooperatives to lease land for production. At the same time, there should be policies to support the consumption of output products for cooperatives.

Leaders of departments, branches and Yen Thanh district attended the meeting with voters. Photo: TL

Proposing a loan policy for cooperatives, Mr. Ta Dinh Quan - a member of Tho Thanh Commune Handicraft Sedge Cooperative said: The cooperative was established 5 years ago, through its activities this is a suitable model, creating jobs and increasing income for idle workers in rural areas. It is proposed that the Law on Cooperatives (amended) should determine the scale, creating conditions for small and micro cooperatives to access preferential loans. At the same time, create favorable conditions for cooperatives to rent land, borrow land according to the planning, delimit areas far from residential areas, ensure environmental sanitation so that cooperatives can feel secure in production.

Regarding land allocation for cooperatives to lease, Mr. Tang Tien Hue - a member of Thang Loi Bamboo and Rattan Handicraft Cooperative in Tho Thanh commune said that the Cooperative has been established for 20 years, has more than 500 members and 20 craft villages specializing in the production and supply of bamboo and rattan products. The implementation of the Cooperative's land acquisition policy to build a communal stadium has resulted in the Cooperative currently having no land to continue production and business. It is recommended that agencies at all levels create conditions for the Cooperative to have land funds to continue production.

Remove obstacles

Reflecting on the shortcomings in the Law on Cooperatives (amended), comrade Nguyen Dinh Duong - Vice Chairman of Yen Thanh District People's Committee said: Yen Thanh District currently has 40 cooperatives. In addition to the province's policies and mechanisms, Yen Thanh District has policies and mechanisms to support cooperatives in developing production.

Comrade Nguyen Thi Nhung - Vice President of Nghe An Province Cooperative Union clarified voters' recommendations. Photo: TL

According to Mr. Duong, the draft Law on Cooperatives (amended) has many preferential policies for cooperative activities. However, when the Law is implemented, there needs to be guiding documents, circulars, and decrees, especially simplifying administrative procedures so that cooperatives can access the policies.

Comrade Nguyen Dinh Duong - Vice Chairman of Yen Thanh District People's Committee received and explained voters' recommendations. Photo: TL

On behalf of the Provincial National Assembly Delegation, Comrade Pham Phu Binh - Standing Member of the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs Committee also received, explained and clarified more groups of issues on policies and institutions related to production and business of cooperatives.

Sharing the common difficulties of cooperatives, especially the lack of production capital, difficulty in accessing policies, etc., comrade Pham Phu Binh affirmed: In the past time, the Central and the province have issued many policies to support cooperatives in developing production.

Comrade Pham Phu Binh - Standing Member of the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs Committee received and responded to the petition of voters of Yen Thanh district. Photo: TL

However, the support policies for cooperative activities are not sufficient and not convenient in the implementation process, leading to cooperatives accessing these policies. This is the reason for the National Assembly to amend the Law on Cooperatives to be more consistent with the Land Law and related Laws, more suitable to reality, create favorable conditions, and add preferential policies for cooperatives to operate more effectively.

Conference scene. Photo: TL

The opinions and recommendations of voters will be seriously received by the Provincial National Assembly Delegation and sent to competent authorities and the National Assembly forum for consideration in the coming time.