In 2019, the economy of Vietnam continued to develop at a growth rate of 7.02%, with a stable macro economy and improved business environment. The annual average consumer price index (CPI) controlled at the lowest rate of (2.79%), expanding the scale of the economy achieving 262 billion USD. The average income per capita was 2,800 USD, with export valued at 517 billion USD and over exported value was 10 billion USD. The collective economy and the cooperatives also received these benefits, and contributed to socio-economic development, particularly in the rural and agricultural sector. Highlights of the Vietnam Cooperative Alliance (VCA) 2019 activities are as below:

• The collective economy and the cooperatives of Vietnam continue to develop and contribute to the socio-economic development, creating jobs, increasing the income, improving living conditions, securing social security and sustainable poverty reduction. There are 2,640 newly established cooperatives, 16 federations of cooperatives and 9,500 pre-cooperatives, achieving 6% and 136% of the plan 2019. As of January 2020, the total number of cooperatives and pre-cooperatives is 24,618, 85 federations of cooperatives and 110,000 pre-cooperatives. Total members are over 7 million people and attracting over 1 million new members and 3.4 million members of the pre-cooperatives.
   
• There are 1,580 production and business cooperatives in line with the chained production values in the local and overseas markets and they apply the high technology, safety and health application criteria, signing long term contracts with the companies.
   
• VCA organized the national conference on summing up the non–agricultural cooperatives, co-hosted with the Ministry of Planning and Investment to organize the 1st Cooperative Economic Forum. The National Conference sum’s-up the 15 year implementation of the 5th Central Resolution, session IX on continuing innovation, development and improving the economic effectiveness of the collective economy. It proposed important solutions to develop the cooperatives in the period of 2020 -2025 and the vision of 2030.
   
• VCA, in coordination with ICA-AP and the Institute for Organic Agricultural Economic of Vietnam organised the ICA-AP Cooperative Registrars’ Forum on “Creating Enabling Legal Framework and Policies to Promote Sustainable Development of Co-operatives in the 21st Century”. It was highly appreciated by the Leaders of the Government of Vietnam and 113 international delegates from 22 countries.
   
• VCA warmly welcomed the working visit of ICA President, Mr. Ariel Guarco at VCA’s head office and to two agricultural cooperatives in Gia Lam, Ha Noi.