Hanoi (VNA) – The 2008 Conference of the International Cooperative Alliance - Asia-Pacific (ICA-AP) Regional Assembly will be organised in Hanoi in next December, according to the Vietnam Cooperative Alliance.
Under the theme “Strengthening Cooperative Advantage under the Competitive Environment”, a series of meetings will be held to boost cooperatives’ operations during the six-day conference.
The Vietnam Cooperative Alliance also plans to organise an international fair for cooperatives and small- and medium-sized enterprises on this occasion.
The ICA-AP aims to develop the cooperative economy by enhancing the exchange of experiences among its members. It also works out recommendations for governments to policies for development of cooperatives.
According to the Vietnam Cooperative Alliance, the country currently has about 18,000 cooperatives, with half of them getting involved in agriculture besides the fields of industrial, handicraft, construction, transport and credit activities.
Nguyen Xuan Hien, Vice President of the Vietnam Cooperative Alliance said that hundreds of these cooperatives have affirmed their role in supporting farmers to reduce poverty and develop production, creating a facelift for rural areas.
However, agricultural cooperatives are still facing numerous difficulties in capital, properties and managing skills.- Enditem
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