SPEECH OF DR. NGUYEN NGOC BAO, PRESIDENT OF VCA AT THE WEBINAR ON “POST COVID-19 RESPONSE OF COOPERATIVES IN ASIA-PACIFIC”

Distinguish Mr. Ariel Guarco, ICA President,

          Distinguish Mr. Li Chunsheng, ICA-AP President,

          Mr. Balu Iyer, General Director of ICA-AP

          Leaders of cooperative federations and international organizations

Good afternoon! Ladies and Gentlemen!

         

Today, it is my pleasure to attend the Webinar on “Post Covid-19 response of cooperatives in Asia-Pacific”. This is a good opportunity for VCA to share Vietnam’ experience on implementing measures against Covid-19 pandemic which is seriously spreading and threatening people health and livelihood all over the world including our cooperative sector.

          As you may know, Vietnam is one of the most successful countries in controlling and pushing back the pandemic. Thanks to the Government’s leadership in providing medical assistance in the fastest and most effective manner, actively disseminating information about the pandemic and health recommendations in Vietnam and in the world; thanks to the solidarity and cohesive of Vietnamese people, especially with more than 30 million members of cooperative sector joining hands in implementing Government’s strategy of  “prevention - early detection, quarantine and treatment” as well as “social distancing”, Vietnam has been achieving significant success. Besides, Vietnam has adopted a dual approach of containing and controlling the outbreak while sustaining socio-economic stability and prioritized people’s lives and health over economic gains.

          Together with this, cooperatives, pre-cooperatives and members of VCA have been maintaining their production and business activities, producing food and essential products such as rice, meat, fruits and others in the case when the supplying chains being interrupted, contributing to stable the market and the  people as well as socio-political livelihood.

          Right from the Covid-19 appeared in Vietnam by the end of January 2020, VCA has strong leadership and direction throughout the VCA system and our members focusing on the implementation of all measures and guidance from the Government and related health authorities; we have received positive contribution from our members. At the same time, VCA also promptly gathered information on the difficulties, problems and hardship issues from our members to propose to the Government and related ministries the immediate measures and actions for the collective economic sector and cooperatives affected by Covid-19 pandemic including tax breaks and permissions for late payment of taxes; continuing to consult to establish new cooperatives; organizing online training courses... VCA also sent 25 letters to share experiences on the pandemic prevention measures to cooperative federations and international organizations in the region and in the world, such as ICA-AP, ILO, DGRV, GIZ, Agriterra, JA-Zenchu, NACF, ACFSMC, SNCF, CLT, ANGKASA, NATCO, Dekopin... and other cooperative organizations in Russia, Italy, France, Brazil, South Africa... as well as sent the document to VCA’s members to guide them to implement and participate in the  financial and economic packages of the Government for the poor, low income people and impacted laborers... for no one being left behind.

          Today, May 13, 2020 also marks a period of 27 days that Vietnam has no new affected cases of Covid-19 in the community, the Government has been allowing loosen the “social distancing” and strengthening production and business activities. However, being known that in the midst of Covid-19 pandemic in the world, no vaccine has been developed and the virus's origin has not been recognized, VCA continues requesting the cooperative sector in  Vietnam to loosen the distancing but at the same time implement all important measures to prevent pandemic, in parallel with observing the conditions of production development, caring for the physical and spiritual life of the members, encouraging mutual help to overcome the hardships and ready to exchange experiences and provide assistances to cooperative federations in other countries with available resources of VCA.

          In the context of countries and international organizations including ICA have recognized the huge negative impact of Covid-19 pandemic on the world and national economy and propose the solutions for pandemic control and post pandemic economic development, VCA would like to make some recommendations and proposals to ICA and ICA-AP as follows:

1. Disseminating the experience of Vietnam and other countries that success in preventing and pushing back the pandemic through organizing forums, seminars such as this important event today.
2. Researching and anticipating the changes of the world economy and the impacts on the cooperative sector, thereby making necessary recommendations to cooperative member organizations.
3. Researching on insurance and financial mechanisms to deal with unprecedented risks such as the Covid-19 pandemic so that negative losses to cooperatives can be minimized.
4. Establishing and formulating the supply chain of the cooperative sector leading by the strong cooperative federations and cooperative groups in the world, providing important voice for the development of cooperative economy.

          Thank you very much for your attention!