With 360,000 cooperative groups, 18,300 separate cooperatives and 49 cooperative alliances, the cooperative sector plays an important role in various economic fields such as agriculture, small-scale industries, transportation and rural credit, the Deputy PM told representatives of the 100 best production and business cooperatives nationwide meeting in Hanoi on July 16.

The sector is a driving force behind the economic restructuring, elimination of poverty, job creation and socio-political stability, Mr. Hai stressed.

He asked the Vietnam Cooperative Alliance to continue acting as an advisor to the Party and State in developing the cooperative sector.

According to Nguyen Tien Quan, President of the Vietnam Cooperative Alliance, there are many model cooperatives in almost all the economic fields.