Cooperative Sector Export Strategy for Vietnam

The Project at A Glance

Viet Nam’s development over the past three decades has been remarkable. Through sustained economic reform efforts, Viet Nam has increased per capita GDP tenfold; risen from one of the poorest nations in the world to Lower Middle-Income Country status; lifted tens of millions out of poverty; cut infant mortality in half; and increased life expectancy by almost 7 years.

International Economics Consulting Ltd. (IEC), is providing assistance to the Viet Nam Cooperative Alliance (VCA) in developing a cooperative sector export strategy based on an assessment of the export potential of the sector. The strategy will address both the national and grass-roots level challenges of export development.

What We Found

Cooperatives play an important role in the Vietnamese economy, contributing 4% of the GDP and making an important contribution to rural economic development. However, cooperatives have benefited less than other sectors from increased trade and export market opening through trade agreements. They generally lack awareness of export markets and export development strategies and they do not benefit from tailored trade promotion policy, programs and services of government or private sector trade support organizations.

Our Team will help to step-by-step address the challenges face by the cooperative economic sector in Vietnam through the development of a cooperative sector export strategy based on an assessment of the export potential of the sector. This strategy will help to address the issues that are holding back the capability of cooperatives that they can maintain and develop production in competition with other economic sectors in the country and gradually but firmly participate in the global market.

Our Strategy and Impact

In recent years, members of the VCA have attained many achievements in production activities. Many cooperatives’ agricultural products have been produced according to the national standards of VietGAP and have been granted collective trademark certificates, the production has also been modernised through the application of technology and organic production methods. However, many of these achievements are at the domestic level, while the gains for cooperatives in the globalisation have been relatively modest compared to other sectors of the economy.

To enhance the position and value of the cooperative’s products, besides the domestic market, Vietnamese cooperatives needs to increasingly expand their reach to export markets. The cooperative sector export strategy will address both the national and grass-roots level challenges of export development by providing: a national roadmap for export development, including recommended policies, programmes and services that should be established by the VCA and the Government of Viet Nam. Our Team will also develop a business guide on the development of an export strategy for individual member cooperatives.

Our Core Solutions

As businesses seek to expand operations into new markets, the need to explore global supply chains and understand the international regulatory framework becomes crucial. At International Economics Consulting, we build tailor-made strategies for both import and export-oriented business solutions.