New programme targets expansion of cooperatives

New programme targets expansion of cooperatives

The programme seeks to develop the collective economic sector in a dynamic and efficient manner while reaffirming the role of cooperatives in the national economy.

Đông Tiến agricultural cooperative in Thanh Hoá Province. — VNA/VNS Photo

Việt Nam aims to have about 140,000 cooperative groups with two million members, 45,000 cooperatives with eight million members and 340 cooperative unions with around 1,700 member cooperatives by 2030.

These figures are set out in the Master Programme for the Development of the Collective Economy for the 2026-30 period, approved this week by Deputy Prime Minister Nguyễn Văn Thắng.

The programme seeks to develop the collective economic sector in a dynamic and efficient manner while reaffirming the role of cooperatives in the national economy. It also targets to expand access to State support policies, attract more members to cooperatives and encourage closer cooperation between businesses and cooperative organisations.

In agriculture, the programme aims to have more than 5,000 cooperatives and 500 cooperative groups applying high technology in production and marketing activities by 2030, while implementing agricultural product traceability systems.

Around half of agricultural cooperatives are expected to establish value-chain linkages with businesses.

It will identify at least 200 high-performing cooperatives and cooperative unions for replication nationwide, with each province and centrally governed city selecting at least six models.

Local authorities will also be required to include at least one public investment project supporting cooperative development in their medium-term public investment plans.

In the industrial and construction sectors, top priority will be given to expanding existing cooperatives, supporting technological upgrades and developing cooperative models linked to craft villages and rural industrial clusters.

Meanwhile, in trade and services, the programme encourages multi-sector cooperatives that support members' production and consumption needs, strengthen supply chains and expand market access.

Authorities also plan to promote community-based tourism and ecotourism models linked to cultural preservation, while enhancing intellectual property protection for local products and services.

By the end of the first quarter of 2026, the country had about 35,197 cooperatives, of which 23,512 were in agriculture, accounting for 66.8 per cent, and 11,685 in non-agricultural sectors, or 33.2 per cent.

During the quarter, 198 new cooperatives were established nationwide while 42 were dissolved. 

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