Enabling legal framework for cooperatives’ development needed
Domestic and foreign delegates to the second Asia-Pacific Cooperative Registrars’ Forum in Ho Chi Minh City on April 18 emphasised the need to complete a legal framework to facilitate the development and effective operations of cooperatives.
Second Asia-Pacific Cooperative Registrars’ Forum (Source: VNA)
HCM City (VNA) – Domestic and foreign delegates to the secondAsia-Pacific Cooperative Registrars’ Forum in Ho Chi Minh City on April 18 emphasisedthe need to complete a legal framework to facilitate the development andeffective operations of cooperatives.
SharingVietnam’s cooperative development situation, Director of the Vietnam Instituteof Organic Agriculture Economics Le Thanh said that Vietnam now has 22,456cooperatives, a half of which are operating effectively.
Inthe past three years, 2,000-2,500 new cooperatives were established each year.It is expected that Vietnam will have around 60,000 cooperatives with 20million members by 2030, Thanh stated.
However,cooperatives are facing difficulties in gaining access to bank loans to serveagricultural restructuring, he stressed, adding that the lack of capital isalso hampering cooperatives’ logistics activities.
NguyenManh Cuong, Vice President of the Vietnam Cooperative Alliance, underlined thatan enabling legal framework would better connect domestic and foreigncooperatives, especially in hi-tech agriculture, thus helping cooperativesexpand their export markets.
AnnApps from Newcastle University of Australia and Lebbe Naseer and Commissionerof Cooperative Development & Registrar of Sri Lanka Suleiman Lebbe Naseershared that both Australia and Sri Lanka have their own Law on Cooperatives tosupport the inclusive role of cooperatives in socio-economic development.
Mostparticipants agreed that more measures should be taken to promote sustainablefood production, create more jobs, and develop business in the cooperativemodel.
Thesecond Asia-Pacific Cooperative Registrars’ Forum was held from April 16-19under the theme “Creating Enabling Legal Framework and Policies to PromoteSustainable Development of Co-operatives in the 21st Century”, by the VietnamCo-operative Alliance, the International Co-operative Alliance Asia-Pacific(ICA-AP) and the Vietnam Institute of Organic Agricultural Economics. -VNA
Solutions to help agricultural cooperative in the Mekong Delta adapt to the market mechanism and climate change were discussed at a forum held in the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap on April 16.
Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue called on cooperatives in the Asia-Pacific region to boost cooperation and connect markets to promote sustainable development of the cooperative sector.
Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue has asked agencies to enhance linkages between cities and provinces nationwide and other countries to form a global network for the OCOP programme.
Developed with state-of-the-art infrastructure, the Da Nang FTZ is designed to become a leading regional economic centre and a strategic growth pole in Vietnam’s new development landscape.
The Binh Duong Association of Supporting Industries (BASI) is expected to promote the usage of domestically manufactured components while supporting businesses in accessing international markets, strengthening linkages, and promoting deeper integration into global supply chains.
PwC Vietnam forecasts a vibrant M&A market in Vietnam’s healthcare sector in 2025, driven by rising demand for high-quality medical services and a growing middle class. Pharmaceutical companies, private hospitals, and specialised medical facilities, particularly in ophthalmology and oncology, are predicted to be key targets for M&A.
The central province of Quang Nam is set to become a hub for the medicinal plant industry, with Ngoc Linh ginseng designated as the core crop, under the Prime Minister's decision issued earlier this year.
The North-South Expressway project is scheduled for completion by 2030, aiming to establish the groundwork for Vietnam’s modern railway industry and stimulate regional economic development, positioning the country for a significant economic leap in the era of national rise.
The probe, initiated on June 11 following a petition by the US Coalition for Fair Trade in Hardwood Plywood, targets products classified under HS Code 4412 and 9403 imported from China, Indonesia and Vietnam.
Sun PhuQuoc Airways was born as a perfect piece in Sun Group’s strategic vision to build a premium ecosystem of tourism, entertainment, real estate, and aviation. With a pioneering ambition, Sun PhuQuoc Airways is not just an airline, but a symbol of connection – bringing the world to Phu Quoc and taking Phu Quoc to the world.
A key change in the draft decree is a provision requiring bank transfers for gold transactions valued at 20 million VND (765 USD) and above, to enhance transparency and verify customer identities.
In the first four months of 2025, trade turnover between Vietnam and Cambodia surpassed 3 billion USD, marking a 7% increase compared to the same period in 2024.
On June 19 alone, a total of 2,005 trucks completed customs clearance at Lang Son’s border gates — the highest single-day figure ever recorded in the province. Of these, 634 carried exports and 1,371 imports.
The OECD Economic Surveys: Vietnam 2025 report focuses on analysing the country’s macroeconomic fundamentals, the impact of international integration on attracting foreign investment and trade, and the country’s prospects for developing a low-carbon economy.
Antoine Colin, Senior Vice President for Global Supply Chain Digital Transformation & Resilience at HP Inc., affirmed HP’s strategic commitment to building a supply chain and ecosystem in Vietnam and the region.
Deputy Director General of the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT)’s Trade Promotion Agency Bui Quang Hung emphasised that logistics has evolved from a technical function into a core capability for Vietnamese exporters to maintain their competitive advantage in the US market.
A trade official has suggested companies work closely with shipping lines, airlines, and freight forwarders to monitor routes, transit times, and potential surcharges while exploring broader cargo insurance to cover risks like war and terrorism.
In addition to institutional reform, the agency is also rolling out key solution groups to combat counterfeit goods, imitations, and intellectual property infringements in the digital environment.
The event, co-organised by the Vietnam Trade Office in the UK and TT Meridian, a local importer of Vietnamese fresh produce, aims to build a national lychee brand and encourage broader recognition of Vietnamese fruits in a competitive, high-end market.
The industry's performance has been powered by bold investments in modern production lines, enabling Vietnamese firms to produce complicated products which were exclusive to advanced economies.
Second Asia-Pacific Cooperative Registrars’ Forum (Source: VNA) 
