The co-operative exists because of members. They are the source of its capital as owners of the co-operative enterprise; they are the source of its income as users of its services. It can be said then that members are key to the success or failure of the co-operative enterprise.
The Co-operative Law of Vietnam defines the co-operative as “a collective economic organization with co-owners” referring to members who together have joint ownership of the co-operative enterprise. But members can be owners only in name, even if they have put in their capital contribution, if they do not exercise their rights and obligations as such.
Co-ownership becomes real when, according to the Law, “members … co-operate with and assist one another in production, business or job creation activities to meet their common needs.” Co-ownership also becomes real when members use or patronize the products and services of the co-operative. As users, for instance, members buy production inputs from the co-operative as well as market their produce through the co-operative. This business relationship is critical to the success
of the co-operative enterprise.
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