Cooperatives play an important role in improving the capacity and position of the economy. However, statistics of the Viet Nam Cooperative Alliance (VCA) show that only some 2 per cent of cooperatives have access to loans, while most still manage by themselves, VCA chairman Nguyen Ngoc Bao said.

According to a report of VCA, cooperative economy and cooperatives have rapidly developed in both quantity and quality, with turnover and profits increasing each year. However, many Vietnamese cooperatives still have internal problems, especially in the new period with the national start-up movement and the application of high technologies in agricultural development launched by the government.

To date, Viet Nam has more than 20,000 cooperatives, 93,266 cooperative groups and 59 cooperative unions in all sectors of agriculture, industry, commerce, service, construction, transport and credit. Cooperatives have played a significant part in promoting economic restructuring, building new rural areas, ensuring social security, stabilising politics and developing socioeconomic.

However, lack of capital makes it difficult for many cooperatives to expand their production or business, even potentially pushing them into bankruptcy, while cooperatives that want to access advanced technology also face many challenges.

The reason why cooperatives find it difficult to access loans is because they do not have collateral and do not meet the strict requirements of banks, the report explained.

Experts suggested that cooperatives should promote the building of trademarks and products for cooperatives to improve their value as well as register their intellectual property for traceability. In addition to this, enterprises should associate with cooperatives in consuming products, bringing cooperatives’ products to domestic and foreign fairs. — VNS