Attending the conference were representatives of leaders from provincial-level Departments, boards, and sectors; representatives of the Cooperative Alliance from provinces and cities: Hai Phong, Da Nang, Hue, Lang Son, Lao Cai, Hung Yen, Ninh Binh, and Ha Tinh.

Overview of the conference

The whole province has nearly 280 cooperatives engaged in production linkages associated with the consumption of agricultural products, accounting for 29.95%

In recent years, the CE sector, with cooperatives as the core, has received attention from the Party and the State, creating favorable conditions in terms of guidelines and policies for the development of the province's CE and co-op sector. Party committees, authorities, sectors, and levels have paid great attention to leadership and direction, and have issued Resolutions and support policies to encourage the development of the CE and cooperatives.

Up to now, the whole province has 935 cooperatives (including 730 cooperatives operating in the agricultural sector, accounting for 78.07%, and 205 cooperatives operating in non-agricultural sectors). Among the operating cooperatives, 578 operate effectively (accounting for 61.8% of the province's total cooperatives); 150 cooperatives apply high technology (accounting for 5.77% of high-tech cooperatives nationwide); 120 cooperatives have products achieving OCOP star ratings with a total of 224 products (accounting for more than 4% of the country's OCOP-subject cooperatives); nearly 280 cooperatives are engaged in production linkages associated with agricultural product consumption, accounting for 29.95% (higher than the national average). The average revenue of a cooperative is 1,801.9 million VND/year; the average profit of a cooperative is 218.6 million VND/year.

Products with OCOP star ratings serve as a brand identity, which is highly favorable for enterprises and cooperatives in product consumption, especially when participating in export. Many OCOP products processed from agricultural produce have found stable export markets, such as loose-leaf tea products to West Asian countries, and fish sauce to the markets of Laos, Japan, and South Korea. Additionally, a number of items have been exported to demanding markets such as France, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, the United States, Japan, South Korea...

Many agricultural cooperatives invest in the application of science and technology, packaging, and labeling, while focusing on input and output services for products to develop production and business; They actively attract resources to invest in machinery and equipment for deep processing, expand industries, scopes of operation, and production-business linkages to enhance production value and product quality, such as: Sen Que Bac Cooperative (Kim Lien), Nam Kim Lemon Cooperative (Thien Nhan), Thanh Linh High-Tech Cooperative (Dai Dong), Pu Mat Medicinal Materials Cooperative, Chi Khe Seedling and Livestock Cooperative (Con Cuong), Da Han Green Agricultural Product Production and Processing Agricultural Cooperative (Nam Dan), Trung Son Commune Safe Agricultural Product Cooperative (Thuan Trung), Tinh Sang Duong Agro-Pharmaceutical Cooperative (Tam Hop), Hau Nguyen High-Tech Cooperative (Nghia Dan), Hai Giang 1 Forestry Cooperative (Cua Lo), Quynh Bang General Agricultural Cooperative (Quynh Anh)...

New-style cooperative models are increasingly dynamic in the market mechanism, mobilizing resources for investment, actively applying scientific and technical advances to production and business, and boldly connecting to effectively perform input and output services for cooperative members, clearly asserting the direction and efficiency of the cooperatives' production and business. Many products of Nghe An cooperatives have initially entered foreign countries, such as brocade weaving products (scarves, skirts, bags...), rattan and bamboo weaving products (tables, chairs, gift baskets, decorations... made from bamboo and "lung" bamboo), pineapple fiber, vegetables, seafood... However, most cooperatives have not yet acted as direct exporters, but are currently operating as intermediaries or providing outsourced processing products for exporting companies.

In recent times, through various forms, the Nghe An Cooperative Alliance has actively and proactively coordinated with sectors and Cooperative Alliances of other provinces and cities to implement trade promotion activities; while constantly improving the quality of consultancy and support for Cooperative Groups, Cooperatives, and Craft Villages to develop production and seek markets. Up to now, over 50 memoranda of understanding (MoUs) have been signed between cooperatives within the province and cooperatives as well as enterprises from other provinces and cities, many of which have been effectively implemented, such as Quynh Lien Cooperative and Lotte Supermarket, Dong Tam General Agricultural Service Cooperative, Sen Que Bac Cooperative and Go!Vinh Supermarket...Organizing for more than 200 turns of cooperatives to participate in trade promotion fairs for the collective economy and cooperative sector, OCOP fairs, and regional agricultural product fairs, contributing to promoting local typical products to consumers, while expanding cooperation with distribution channels, large supermarket systems in cities, mini-mart systems, and store chains across provinces/cities nationwide.

The Nghe An Cooperative Alliance has organized and coordinated the organization of 43 trade promotion activities, including 6 Trade Promotion Conferences associated with the Economic Forum of the cooperative economy and cooperative sector in Nghe An province, with the participation of 82 turns of provinces and cities; 4 Green Fairs and 5 Rural Markets within the province, participating in 4 Vietnam Craft Village Fairs organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, 7 Trade Promotion Fairs for cooperatives organized by the Vietnam Cooperative Alliance; and organizing 17 out-of-province trade promotion events...

At the conference, leaders of the Cooperative Alliances from various provinces and cities shared experiences in trade promotion activities within the collective economy, cooperative, and craft village sectors; at the same time, they provided advice on production model orientation, connection of raw material areas, and product consumption; supported trademark development; organized for cooperatives and member units with products and goods to participate in promotion and market seeking; and built regional linkage chains to make local product consumption more effective in the coming time...

At this conference, the Cooperative Alliances of provinces and cities sign Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) among themselves; and sign principle contracts and MoUs between cooperatives and enterprises.

Further promote trade promotion activities, production connections, and product consumption for cooperatives and craft villages

Vice Chairman of the PPC Nguyen Van De concludes the conference

After listening to the report on trade promotion activities and the introduction of strengths, typical, and regional products of cooperatives, cooperative groups, and craft villages in Nghe An province; along with the highly valuable and passionate exchanges and presentations from various provinces, sectors, and cooperatives, Vice Chairman of the PPC Nguyen Van De praised the efforts of the Provincial Cooperative Alliance in recent times for closely following the guidelines and resolutions of the province; proactively proposing and actively participating in trade promotion activities, contributing positively to the promotion, introduction, and connection of product consumption for cooperatives, cooperative groups, and craft villages in the province.

To further enhance the effectiveness of trade promotion and supply-demand connection, linking trade promotion with market development and export participation, thereby contributing to product consumption and improving production and business efficiency in the collective economy (CE) and cooperative sector, Vice Chairman of the PPC Nguyen Van De requested that in the coming time, it is necessary to continue further accelerating trade promotion activities, production connections, and product consumption for cooperatives and craft villages; linking trade promotion with promoting cooperation and connections for market development and export participation. Accelerate linkages among cooperatives, and between cooperatives and enterprises to jointly invest in improving product quality and building trademarks. Cooperatives should associate their production and business activities with developing local key products of high quality, attractive packaging, and clear origins.

Continue to perform well in communication work to raise awareness for party committees, authorities, and all classes of people to deeply understand the Party's guidelines on the development of the collective economy; coordinate closely with departments, boards, and sectors to promptly concrete the province's plans and projects on agricultural restructuring associated with the province's socio-economic development goals.

For cooperatives, enterprises, and production-business establishments, it is essential to clearly perceive the importance of trade promotion activities; confidently, proactively, and actively participate in trade events and supply-demand connections; and attend fairs and exhibitions to promote products and seek partners to expand markets... It is necessary to continue innovating production and business methods, while actively applying scientific and technical advances to production and processing, and building quality, branded products. For cooperatives with already star-rated products, they must continue to make improvements to enhance the quality of goods and achieve higher OCOP product rankings.

Regarding the Provincial Cooperative Alliance, it is necessary to strengthen coordination with neighboring provinces, especially within the Cooperative Alliance system, to learn and exchange experiences, thereby helping cooperatives and member enterprises improve and enhance production and business efficiency, supply the market with many quality and high-value products oriented towards export, and enable the local cooperative economy and cooperative sector to make increasingly positive contributions to local socio-economic development.

Continue to proactively coordinate with Departments and sectors to advise the PPC on specific mechanisms and policies for supply-demand connection activities, ensuring that this work is maintained annually with increasing professionalism and efficiency.

Coordinate with communes and wards in the province to proactively build specific plans and clearly identify products and goods that need connection; strengthen propaganda and promotion of cooperatives' products and goods, and widely disseminate information about products and goods from this locality to other localities in the region.

Provincial departments and sectors, according to their functions, shall continue to proactively coordinate with the Provincial Cooperative Alliance to deploy trade promotion activities and supply-demand connections for products in the collective economy and cooperative sector; and coordinate in researching and proposing policies to support and encourage cooperatives and enterprises to develop quality products that meet OCOP standards.

H.B