The collective economy sector is facing new opportunities to shift from extensive growth to enhanced quality, competitiveness, and deeper participation in value chains. Over the next five years, the country aims to have more than 5,000 cooperatives applying high technology, laying a foundation for the robust development of the collective economy.
 |
| Truong Phat Agricultural Service Cooperative in Nhon Trach Ward showcases OCOP products. |
For Dong Nai City, which has more than 670 active cooperatives, these opportunities are even more significant as the development space expands, necessitating new growth drivers.
New requirements for development
The 7th National Congress of the Vietnam Cooperative Alliance for the 2026-2031 term was recently held successfully as the economy enters a new stage of development marked by increasingly high requirements for science, technology, innovation, digital transformation, green transition, and chain linkages.
Notably, the new goal is not merely to increase the number of cooperatives but to focus on improving operational efficiency, placing members at the center, and taking economic performance as the primary metric. In particular, linkages, technology, human resources, and market access are identified as decisive factors in the development of cooperatives.
In his congratulatory letter to the congress, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Van Thang emphasized that the collective economy and cooperatives must truly become modern and efficient forms of organizing production, helping members enhance their competitiveness, access resources, and expand markets. This perspective reflects a clear shift in the perception of cooperatives: a co-op is not merely a model for bringing producers together but must become an economic entity capable of organizing production and business activities and participating in the market.
Under the orientation for the new term, by 2030, the country aims to have more than 5,000 cooperatives and 500 cooperative groups applying high technology in the production and consumption of agricultural products, while approximately 50% of agricultural cooperatives are expected to establish value-chain linkages with businesses. Alongside these goals is the requirement to improve the quality of management personnel, with at least 25% of co-op managers holding college or university degrees and approximately 80% of co-op directors receiving professional management training.
These goals are consistent with the spirit of Resolution No. 20-NQ/TW, dated June 16, 2022, of the 13th Party Central Committee on continuing to innovate, develop and improve the effectiveness of the collective economy in the new period. Furthermore, the Master Program for Collective Economy Development for the 2026-2030 period, approved by the Prime Minister in Decision No. 1128/QD-TTg dated June 24, 2026, also clearly defines the perspective of development based on the internal strength of cooperatives, with the State providing support through institutions, mechanisms, policies, and partial resources.
Thus, a “breakthrough” for the collective economy in the coming period lies not only in establishing more cooperatives but, more importantly, in forming cooperatives of appropriate scale, with sound management, branded products, market presence, and sufficient capacity to become vital links in production chains.
Turning advantages into linkage strength
According to Cao Xuan Thu Van, President of the Vietnam Cooperative Alliance, the country is entering a new stage of development in which science and technology, innovation, digital transformation, green transition, and international integration all open up opportunities and impose higher requirements on the collective economy sector.
Therefore, the Vietnam Cooperative Alliance system, together with cooperatives, cooperative unions, and cooperative groups, cannot enter this new stage with old mindsets and methods. They must make a strong shift from quantity to quality; from individual production to value chain linkages; from isolated support to building an ecosystem; from technology application to creating value through technology; and from domestic markets to proactive integration and enhanced competitiveness.
For Dong Nai City, the new orientations for the collective economy offer significant room for development. Dong Nai currently has more than 670 cooperatives and over 1,000 cooperative groups in operation. The collective economy is no longer a small, fragmented sector outside the growth process but has formed an operational network across many fields, including agriculture, services, transportation, commerce, and credit.
The challenge is to reorganize and improve operational efficiency so that this network can create greater value.
Dong Nai is also placing cooperatives within a broader network of connections with the business community. Since the beginning of 2026, the Dong Nai City People's Committee has directed departments, sectors, localities, the Dong Nai Cooperative Alliance, and business representative organizations to coordinate the development of the collective economy in conjunction with business linkages. This direction is consistent with the requirements for building value chains and treating cooperatives as equal business partners of enterprises.
As Dong Nai moves toward a larger-scale economic space linked to the airport city, high-tech industry, logistics, services, and modern agriculture, cooperatives also need to change their approach.
For agricultural cooperatives, such a shift could involve serving as focal points for organizing raw material areas, controlling quality, ensuring traceability, and connecting with processing and export businesses. Service cooperatives can participate in logistics, supply, trade, and services supporting urban areas. New models can also pursue green, digital, and circular development rather than relying solely on traditional production methods.
Nguyen Thanh Hien, Vice Chairwoman in charge of the Dong Nai Cooperative Alliance, stated that Dong Nai's collective economy is entering a new phase of competition. This requires cooperatives to change their small-scale production mindset, improve management capacity, boldly establish linkages with businesses, and participate more deeply in value chains, thereby making a worthy contribution to the locality's overall development.
By Vuong The – Translated by Minh Hong, Thu Ha
Thông tin bạn đọc
Đóng Lưu thông tin