Removing obstacles helps cooperatives develop sustainably.

On the morning of April 27th, in Tho Thanh commune, Yen Thanh district, the Provincial National Assembly Delegation, including comrades Nguyen Van Chi - Deputy Chair of the National Assembly's Finance and Budget Committee; Pham Phu Binh - Standing Member of the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs Committee; and Thai Thi An Chung - Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Deputy Head of the Nghe An Provincial National Assembly Delegation, held a meeting with voters on the topic of the amended Cooperative Law before the 5th session of the 15th National Assembly.

National Assembly delegates meet with voters in Yen Thanh district. Photo: Provided.

The conference heard a presentation from Ms. Thai Thi An Chung, member of the Provincial Party Committee, Deputy Head of the Standing Delegation of the National Assembly of Nghe An province, on the expected agenda of the 5th session of the 15th National Assembly and the new points regarding the amended Law on Cooperatives.

Difficulty accessing capital

In their feedback to National Assembly representatives, representatives of cooperatives in Yen Thanh district proposed and suggested issues related to the effectiveness of cooperatives, support policies for cooperatives, organizational and operational models, land policies, capital, finance, and markets for cooperative products.

Comrade Thai Thi An Chung - Deputy Head of the Standing Delegation of National Assembly Deputies of the province, provided information on the program of the 5th session of the 15th National Assembly and some new points regarding the amended Law on Cooperatives. Photo: Provided.

Regarding internal credit activities, Mr. Ho Sy Quang, Chairman of Tho Thanh Agricultural Cooperative, stated: To solve the capital problem, some cooperatives have established internal credit systems. Currently, cooperatives operate internal credit by mobilizing idle capital contributed by members to provide loans to members within the cooperative for production development.

According to Mr. Quang, internal credit is very suitable for members, especially those in rural areas. Internal credit has become a "lifeline" 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 are very likely to make mistakes and face many risks. Therefore, policies are needed to support cooperatives in improving their capacity to develop production and business plans. The amended Law on Cooperatives needs to issue a circular guiding internal credit activities.

Voters in Yen Thanh district proposed policies related to cooperative development to their National Assembly representatives. Photo: Provided.

Also emphasizing the urgent need for internal credit in the context of cooperatives finding it difficult to borrow capital from commercial banks, Mr. Chu Minh Ly, Secretary of the Party Committee of Tho Thanh commune, stated that leasing land, renting land, and contributing land for cooperatives to operate face many difficulties. He suggested that the National Assembly should have appropriate policies and mechanisms to facilitate cooperatives in leasing land for production. At the same time, policies are needed to support the guaranteed purchase of products from cooperatives.

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

Regarding proposed loan policies for cooperatives, Mr. Ta Dinh Quan, a member of the Tho Thanh Handicraft Cooperative, stated: "The cooperative has been established for 5 years, and through its operations, it has proven to be a suitable model, creating jobs and increasing income for unemployed rural workers. I propose that the amended Cooperative Law should define the scale and create conditions for small and micro-cooperatives to access preferential loans. At the same time, it should facilitate cooperatives in leasing or borrowing land according to planning regulations, designating areas far from residential areas, and ensuring environmental hygiene so that cooperatives can focus on production."

Regarding land allocation for cooperatives, Mr. Tang Tien Hue, a member of the Thang Loi Bamboo and Rattan Handicraft Cooperative in Tho Thanh commune, stated that the cooperative has been established for 20 years, has over 500 members, and 20 craft villages specializing in the production, supply, and distribution of bamboo and rattan products. The implementation of the policy to reclaim the cooperative's land for the construction of the commune's stadium has resulted in the cooperative currently lacking land to continue its production and business activities. He requested that relevant agencies at all levels facilitate the cooperative's acquisition of land to continue production.

Removing obstacles

Reflecting on the shortcomings and inadequacies in the amended Cooperative Law, Mr. Nguyen Dinh Duong, Vice Chairman of the Yen Thanh District People's Committee, stated: Yen Thanh District currently has 40 cooperatives. In addition to the provincial policies and mechanisms, Yen Thanh District has its own policies and mechanisms to support cooperatives in developing production.

Comrade Nguyen Thi Nhung - Vice President of the Nghe An Provincial Cooperative Union - clarifies the voters' recommendations. Photo: Provided.

According to Mr. Duong, the draft Law on Cooperatives (amended) contains many preferential policies for the operation of cooperatives. However, when the Law is implemented, there will need to be guiding documents, circulars, and decrees, especially those simplifying administrative procedures, so that cooperatives can access these policies.

Comrade Nguyen Dinh Duong - Vice Chairman of Yen Thanh District People's Committee, receives and explains the suggestions of voters. Photo: Provided.

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 further clarified the groups of issues regarding institutional policies related to the production and business of cooperatives.

Sharing the common difficulties faced by cooperatives, especially the lack of production capital and difficulty accessing policies, Comrade Pham Phu Binh affirmed: In recent times, the Central Government 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 - receives and responds to the petitions of voters in Yen Thanh district. Photo: Provided.

However, support policies for cooperative activities are insufficient and not easily implemented, leading to difficulties for cooperatives in accessing these policies. This is why the National Assembly needs to amend the Law on Cooperatives to be more consistent with the Land Law and related laws, more in line with reality, create a more favorable environment, and add more preferential policies to help cooperatives operate more effectively.

Conference scene. Photo: Provided.

Regarding the opinions and suggestions of voters, the Provincial National Assembly Delegation will seriously consider them and forward them to the competent authorities and the National Assembly forum for consideration in the near future.