Directive No. 22/2003/CT-TTg on continuing to promote the implementation of the Central Resolution No. 5 (Term IX) on collective economy

 DIRECTIVE

Regarding the continued promotion of the implementation of Resolution Central Committee 5 (Term IX)

on collective economy

After more than one year of implementing Resolution No. 13-NQ/TW dated March 18, 2002 of the Fifth Plenary Session of the Central Committee of the Party (Term IX) on continuing to renew, develop, and enhance the efficiency of the collective economy and the Action Program of the Government issued together with Decision No. 94/2002/QD-TTg dated July 17, 2002, many ministries, sectors, and localities have made significant efforts to study, institutionalize, and issue specific mechanisms and policies aimed at resolving difficulties and obstacles and creating favorable conditions for the continued development of the collective economy. Many cooperative models have been established and operated effectively, contributing positively to the process of restructuring the economic structure, industrialization, and modernization of agriculture and rural areas.

However, the dissemination and implementation of the Resolution have not yet been truly extensive and comprehensive as required. The issuance of guiding documents for implementation has been slow, and the content of some documents has not been fully appropriate. The specialized management machinery and the cadre of state managers in ministries, sectors, and localities for cooperatives still have many shortcomings. The organization and direction to address the weaknesses of the collective economy sector have not been focused, and fundamental changes have not been achieved according to the requirements of the Resolution.

To continue to promote the implementation of Resolution Central Committee 5 (Term IX) on the collective economy, the Prime Minister requests:

1. Relevant ministries, sectors, and People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities:

- Continuously and regularly disseminate and implement the Resolution widely within their respective fields and localities to raise awareness about the position, role, and objective necessity of developing the collective economy; build models and summarize and popularize exemplary cases; consider the development of the collective economy as one of the key political tasks of their units and assign specific responsibilities in leadership and guidance.

- In accordance with their functions, duties, and authorities, coordinate with the Vietnam Union of Cooperatives and the Vietnam Farmers' Association to promptly complete the assigned tasks under Decision No. 94/2002/QD-TTg dated July 17, 2002. At the same time, plan to monitor, urge, and inspect the implementation; organize mid-term reviews of the Resolution's implementation and timely supplement measures to continue renewing, developing, and enhancing the efficiency of the collective economy.

2. The Ministry of Planning and Investment shall take the lead, in coordination with relevant ministries, sectors, and People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities, to finalize the draft Law on Cooperatives (Amended) to submit to the National Assembly.

By the end of the fourth quarter of 2003, issue criteria for evaluating and classifying agricultural and non-agricultural cooperatives.

Develop a training program for managing cadres at all levels and positions in cooperatives, to be completed by the end of the fourth quarter of 2003.

Submit to the Government the Program for Developing the Collective Economy until 2005 and 2010 by the end of the first quarter of 2004.

3. The Ministry of Finance shall take the lead, in coordination with the Ministry of Planning and Investment, based on approved projects and training plans, compile and allocate training funds for managing cadres and positions in cooperatives, especially agricultural cooperatives, for relevant ministries, sectors, localities, and the Vietnam Union of Cooperatives. Direct localities to settle outstanding debts of agricultural cooperatives in 2003 according to Decision No. 146/2001/QD-TTg dated October 2, 2001 of the Prime Minister and Circular No. 31/2002/TT-BTC dated March 29, 2002 of the Ministry of Finance. Submit to the Prime Minister solutions for handling debts that have been placed on the payment network of non-agricultural cooperatives by the end of the fourth quarter of 2003.

Guide the implementation and application of business license tax suitable for each type of cooperative by the end of the fourth quarter of 2003. Guide the financial management regulations for non-agricultural cooperatives by the second quarter of 2004.

Submit to the Government in the first quarter of 2004 the proposal for establishing and using the Development Support Fund for Cooperatives.

Guide the financial support mechanism for cooperatives allocated land without payment and those leasing or transitioning to leasing land, to be completed by the end of the fourth quarter of 2003.

4. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shall take the lead, in coordination with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, and People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities, guide the voluntary and mutually beneficial land consolidation and redistribution, combined with re-planning paddy fields and efficient land use, to be completed by the end of the fourth quarter of 2003.

Summarize the situation and propose solutions for agricultural cooperatives that have not converted or dissolved according to the current Cooperative Law, to report to the Government by the end of the fourth quarter of 2003.

5. The Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs shall take the lead, in coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Vietnam Farmers' Association, and the Vietnam Union of Cooperatives, to draft the Statutes for Compulsory Social Insurance for cooperative management positions, members, and workers employed by cooperatives; Statutes for Voluntary Social Insurance for farmers, self-employed workers, and workers in cooperatives who do not participate in compulsory social insurance, to be submitted to the Government by the end of the fourth quarter of 2003.

Develop a vocational training program for technical professionals working in the collective economy sector, to be completed by the end of the fourth quarter of 2003.

6. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment shall take the lead, in coordination with the Ministries of Finance, Agriculture and Rural Development, Fisheries, and People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities, to complete the draft Decree on allocating land without payment for use and issuing land use rights certificates for agricultural, fisheries, and salt-making cooperatives for building cooperative headquarters, drying yards, warehouses, and direct service facilities serving production, to be submitted to the Government by the second quarter of 2004.

6. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment shall take the lead and coordinate with the Ministries of Finance, Agriculture and Rural Development, Fisheries, and the People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities to complete the draft Decree on allocating land without collecting land use fees and issuing certificates of land use rights for agricultural cooperatives, fisheries cooperatives, and salt-making cooperatives to establish cooperative headquarters premises, drying yards, warehouses, and business service facilities directly serving production, and submit it to the Government in the second quarter of 2004.

7. The Ministry of Home Affairs shall take the lead and coordinate with relevant ministries and sectors to guide the organization and state management functions and tasks of cooperatives according to Article 10 of Decree No. 86/2002/ND-CP dated November 5, 2002, Decree No. 02/CP dated January 2, 1997, and Section 4 of Resolution No. 13-NQ/TW dated March 18, 2002 of the Fifth Plenary Session of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam (Term IX) on continuing to reform, develop, and enhance the efficiency of collective economic entities. Completion is required by the fourth quarter of 2003.

8. The Ministry of Science and Technology shall take the lead in formulating policies to encourage scientific research institutions to collaborate with cooperatives in transferring new scientific and technological achievements to cooperatives, and submit these policies to the Prime Minister for approval by the first quarter of 2004.

9. The State Bank of Vietnam shall continue to study and improve credit mechanisms and policies, and direct credit organizations to facilitate loans for cooperatives and cooperative economic forms for production and business development as stipulated in Resolution No. 02/2003/NQ-CP dated January 17, 2003 of the Government and legal provisions concerning loan guarantees for credit organizations.

Organize a mid-term review of the implementation of Directive No. 57-CT/TW of the Politburo and Decision No. 135/2000/QĐ-TTg dated November 28, 2000 of the Prime Minister on consolidating, improving, and developing the people's credit fund system by the first quarter of 2004. Improve mechanisms and policies to create a synchronized legal environment for the people's credit fund system to develop safely and effectively.

Guide the internal credit operation regulations within cooperatives, with completion required by the first quarter of 2004.

10. The Vietnam Union of Cooperatives shall take the lead and coordinate with relevant ministries and sectors, provincial and municipal People's Committees under the central government to summarize, promote exemplary practices, launch competitive movements among cooperatives; organize and implement effectively training programs for cooperative management cadres within the scope of responsibility of the Vietnam Union of Cooperatives.

11. Provincial and municipal People's Committees under the central government must strengthen the organizational structure for managing collective economy at the local level to have sufficient capacity to advise the provincial Party Committee and People's Committee on following up and guiding the implementation of policies and operations in this economic sector. Actively and proactively implement assigned tasks in the Government's action program, closely cooperate with ministries, sectors, and mass organizations during the implementation process, and based on the actual situation in their locality, adopt appropriate measures to resolve difficulties and obstacles, creating favorable conditions to encourage various forms of cooperative economy and cooperatives to develop rapidly, firmly, and efficiently.

Ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, and Chairpersons of provincial and municipal People's Committees under the central government must urgently direct and organize the effective implementation of this Directive.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment shall be responsible for monitoring, summarizing, and reporting to the Prime Minister the results of the implementation of this Directive./.