The active participation of the Vietnam delegation at the ICA-AP 17 Regional Assembly and the 12th Cooperative Forum underscored Vietnam’s growing stature in the Asia-Pacific cooperative movement.

Led by Cao Xuan Thu Van, Chairwoman of the Vietnam Cooperative Alliance (VCA), the Vietnamese delegation highlighted that the events provided an opportunity to step up international cooperation while showing Vietnam’s significant strides in cooperative economy transformation and deeper integration.

The ICA-AP 17 Regional Assembly, opening on November 26 under the theme “Cooperatives Build a Better World,” brought together representatives from 22 countries.

Discussions focused on core issues for the global cooperative movement, including green development, post-crisis resilience, governance improvement, and regional linkages.

Vietnam’s delegation was recognized for its proactive stance, delivering concrete messages on cooperative model innovation in line with agricultural restructuring, rural economic development, and climate change adaptation.

The VCA leader emphasized that agricultural innovation has become a mandatory responsibility amid growing global food demand and climate-related production pressures.

Vietnam’s cooperatives have demonstrated their importance in reorganizing production, applying science and technology, improving product quality, and enhancing sustainable linkages between communities and businesses.

Cooperatives serve as an economic force while playing a crucial role in environmental protection, emission reduction, and promoting sustainable prosperity in rural areas.

The 12th Cooperative Forum, held concurrently with ICA-AP 17, focused on “Cooperatives Build a Better World: Enhancing Resilience, Sustaining Investment, and Smart Communication.” Organized biennially, the forum connects national cooperative organizations and international experts to exchange strategies for cooperative development, digital transformation, and adaptation to global challenges. This year’s forum was particularly significant, coinciding with the International Year of Cooperatives 2025.

On the sidelines, the Vietnam delegation held productive meetings with ICA President Ariel Guarco and ICA-AP Regional Director Balasubramanian Balu Iyer.

Discussions centered on cooperative staff training, digital transformation models, sustainable cooperative frameworks, and strengthening links for Vietnamese agricultural products in international markets. These directions are timely as Vietnam’s cooperative economy consolidates internal capacity, enhances governance, and completes policy frameworks in line with Government Resolutions 68 and 106.

On November 27, the Assembly conducted the election of the ICA-AP Regional Council for 2025-2028, comprising a Chairperson, two Vice Chairs, eight members, and representatives of the Youth and Women Committees. The new leadership structure is expected to steer the regional cooperative movement toward green transition, improved governance, and cross-border linkages over the next four years.

Several specialized sessions attracted Vietnam’s interest. The session “Shaping Cooperative Prosperity through Progressive Policies” provided expert recommendations on legal reforms, governance training, and policy system improvements to create a favorable cooperative environment. Vietnam’s delegation assessed these suggestions as aligned with domestic agricultural cooperative policies, particularly amid efforts to restructure agriculture alongside green transition.

The session “Solving Cooperative Financing Challenges through Flexible Financial Sources” offered new perspectives on long-term capital mobilization, legal frameworks, and innovative financial models.

India expert Satish Marathe analyzed solutions for cooperatives to access capital while maintaining democratic member control-a common challenge across countries, including Vietnam. Experts agreed that cooperatives can sustain competitiveness only through bold financial model innovation and synchronized policy reforms.

Vietnam’s active participation at ICA-AP 17 demonstrates its commitment to proactive integration and elevating the cooperative system in a new era.

Through practical initiatives and a strong voice, Vietnam is steadily asserting its role in the regional and global cooperative movement towards building a modern, effective, and sustainable cooperative ecosystem in the time ahead.

Forum highlights cooperatives' contributions to national economy

The collective economy and cooperatives have made important contributions to the country's economic growth, and social security and equality, and created many jobs for domestic labourers, especially the disadvantaged in society, Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai said on October 12.

From cooperatives to millions of Vietnamese enterprises

Vietnam’s economic situation changed significantly after the 6th National Party Congress, with decisions to remove production bottlenecks, ease circulation of goods, and adopt a multi-sectoral economic policy. In particular, opening the door for private enterprises to develop freely in all sectors not prohibited by law helped transform the economy.