Co-operative Department
The first Co-operative Department was opened in Maymyo (Pwin-Oo-Lwin)in 1994. At present, there are (14) state and division co-operative departments and 321 township co-operative departments under it. In order to develope co-operative activities, the Co-operative Department is responsible for such function as regulatory, organizing, educating and supervising. In line with the basic priciples of co-operatives, the Department also assists to form co-operatives and develope their bussinesses.

Cottage Industries Department
Before the Second World War, office of the Superintendent of Cottage Industries, was formed to supervise industrial activities, and in 1949 transferred into office of the Director of Industries which undertook private industrial development in 1954. In 1956, it was extended to Directorate of Industries (DI).
In 1972, Directorate of Industries was transferred under the Ministry of Industry, bearing the name of Cottage Industries Corporation. In 1974, it was again transferred under the Ministry of Co-operatives, and became Cottage Industries Department in 1976.
The Cottage Industries Department is a technical department. As such, technical assitances are being provided to set up small and medium industrial co-operative societies. In addition, technical trainings are conducted and technologies are transferred to co-operatives and private enterprises.
With a view to promoting cottage industries, the State Law and Order Restoration Council enacted Cottage Industries Promotion Law No. 13/91. Practsing this law, as of December, 2000, 5248 cottage industries have been registered and requirements of cottage industries are being fulfilled according to provisions of the law. The department is responsible for assiting co-operatives and private enterpises to produce import subsitutional items and transferring technical know-how to those.
In 1997, the Cottage Industries Department was promoted to higer status, opening the two branch offices, the Llower Myanmar branch office (Yangon) and the Upper Myanmar branch office (Mandalay) in addition to Head Office (Yangon).

Co-operative Export and Import Enterprise
With a view to facilitating and promoting external trade by co-operative societies, the Ministry of Co-operatives established the Co-operative Export Import Enterprise on 1st September 1994.
The Co-operative Export Import Enterprise is responsible for export promotional activities such as collecting, analyzing and disseminating market information, identifying export potential and market, product development, negotiation and documentation, supervision, control of export activities and support servicies for the co-operative societies to form joint ventures with foreign partners.
While Co-operative Export Import Enterprise was established, Government funded 1000 million kyats of revolving fund and US$ 0.5 million with exporting the pulses & beans and agricultural products, where as, prawns, fishes, scantling woods, straw- pulps and assorted handicrafts, foreign currency were saved by CEIE. With earning from export, Co-operative Export Import Enterprise prushases industrial raw-materials, fertilizer, cement, steel wires and steel coils, deformed steel bars, batteries with flap & tubes, medicinal raw-materials, inseticides, foodstuff, raw-marterials and household goods, for the benefits of consumers and farmers ulities and for the State requirements with the guidance of Trade Council's Policy.
During the time of State Peace and Development Council, Co-operative Export Import Enterprise is planning to proceed its annual export plans to achieve the plan targets within the co-operative sector, and the Co-operative Export Import Enterprise accumulated yearly profits from 1995-96 till now, In 1999-2000, Co-operative Export Import Enterprise remitted the Government assisting fund of perviously granted 1000 million kyats and US$ 0.5 million of revolving fund to the Government and the Independently proceed its trading activities by own total profit earning of over 1600 million Kyats up to end of December, 2000. Thus, Co-operative Export Import Enterprise has carry out with full momentum to perform its export plan targets.

Brief History
As the British Government promulgated India Co-operative Credit Act in 1904 to solve the indebtness problem of Indian farmers, it also entitled to Myanmar Nainggan, as a state of India. The first agricultural Credit Co-operative of Myanmar was organized and registered in Mimmu Township on 3rd January, 1905. In this way, the

co-operative movement was introduced in Myanmar. Before her Independence, the two Co-operative Acts and Laws were enacted in 1912 and 1927 by the Government under British Rules. The Government of Myanmar enacted two co- operative laws in 1956 and 1970 after the country had regained her Independence in 1948.
In order to carry out business activities by co-operative societies in line with the market-oriented economy, the State Law and Order Restoration Council repealed the Law Order No 11/88 that amended prescript in 1970 Co-operative Laws, on 8th December, 1988.

Co-operative Society Law
On 22nd December, 1992, the State Law and Order Restoration Council enacted 1992 Co- operative Law with the following objectives:-

1. To creat business opportunities in order to be in line with the changing circumstances according to the market oriented economy,
2. To develop co-operative business and social activities, based on international co- operative basic principles, by striving hard with self-reliance without restrictions and confinements.
3. To participate as preliminary members for those who are of the ripe age of 12 years old in order to believe in co-operative spirit with their natural bent since youth.

1. To form the society with persons who wish to participate of their own volition;
2. A member or a representative to have an equal right of one person being able to give one vote and to administer all transactions of the society only according to the wishes of the majority;
3. To restrict the benefit to be derived for the share subscribed in the society;
4. To apportion the net profits accrued from the business of the society according to the decision of the members;
5. To carry out dissemination of co-operative concept and technique;
6. To ensure effective co-operation among co-operative societies in and outside the country;
7. To enable the society to be only an organization carrying out economic and social activities of the society;
8. To raise the standard of living of the members and member societies by working with the objective of the interests of the same.
9. To enable the members or member societies to become participants in the economic and social activities of the society;
10. To enable the society to become organization adminstering according to the wishes of the marjority by combining service and property in the interests of the members, member societies and equity business partners;

1. Union of Agriculture Producers Cooperative Syndicates,
2. Union of Industrial Producers Co-operative Syndicates,
3. Union of Government Employees Co-operative Syndicates,
4. Union of Education Employees Co-operative Syndicates,
5. Union of Monetary Co-operative Syndicates.