Hanoi, April 12, 2025 – The Europe Today: Deputy Prime Minister Nguyễn Chí Dũng on Friday evening presided over a ceremony in Hanoi recognising 100 outstanding cooperatives with the ‘Coop Star Awards 2025’, organised by the Vietnam Cooperative Alliance. The event was a highlight of the Month of Action for Cooperatives and aligns with the UN’s International Year of Cooperatives.
Deputy PM Dũng, who also heads the National Steering Committee for the Collective Economy, praised the awardees and reflected on the 79-year history of Vietnam’s cooperative sector. He recalled that the first cooperative was founded in 1948 in the Việt Bắc base area in response to President Hồ Chí Minh’s call, marking the birth of the collective economy in the country.
“The cooperative sector has undergone a profound transformation in both mindset and operations,” he said. “It has grown significantly in scale and diversified across sectors to meet both domestic and export demands.”
A Vital Economic Pillar
As of the end of 2024, Vietnam had over 33,000 cooperatives, six million members, and 152 cooperative unions. The collective economy continues to play a key role in supporting household economies, social welfare, and political stability at the grassroots level, while also contributing directly to national economic growth.
Deputy PM Dũng commended the Vietnam Cooperative Alliance for its contributions in organising events to celebrate and develop the sector. He called on ministries, sectors, and local authorities to enhance policies and mechanisms in line with Party directives to further improve the effectiveness and competitiveness of the collective economy.
“Authorities must stand by cooperatives, especially in overcoming business challenges and training future human resources,” Dũng emphasized.
A Call for Innovation and Sustainability
He urged cooperatives to be proactive, resilient, and self-reliant, focusing on sustainable value chain linkages to adapt to an increasingly competitive and volatile market. He also encouraged a shift toward a modern economic mindset, embracing the green economy, circular economy, and strategies for climate change adaptation.
“The Government will continue to support cooperatives in surmounting obstacles and unlocking their potential,” he said. “I hope the cooperative community will make even greater contributions to national development.”
Future Vision and Commitment
Cao Xuân Thu Vân, Chair of the Vietnam Cooperative Alliance, stressed the alliance’s commitment to building the image and brand of Vietnamese cooperatives in the international integration process.
“We aim to link business activities with product value chains, adopt digital transformation, and promote green and organic agriculture,” she said. “Our goal is to ensure practical and sustainable growth that truly benefits our members.”
The event not only celebrated the achievements of outstanding cooperatives but also served as a rallying call for greater innovation, collaboration, and inclusivity within the collective economic sector, reaffirming its crucial role in Vietnam’s socio-economic future.
