Promoting linkages between cooperatives and businesses

Private economy and collective economy are playing an increasingly important role in the country’s development, serving as a driving force for Vietnam to move towards self-reliance and sustainable growth in the future.

Products of the wastewater treatment system for production and livestock breeding of Tan Quyet Thang Cooperative.

Linkages in production and business between the collective economy and the private economy, and between cooperatives and enterprises, are being strengthened in Dong Nai and across the country, contributing to enhancing the production value of the collective economy.

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According to statistics from the Ministry of Finance, Vietnam’s collective economy with cooperatives playing the core role has recorded impressive growth. By the end of 2025, the country had more than 35,000 cooperatives, up 34.2 percent compared with 2020. The number of cooperative members reached nearly six million. In addition, 164 cooperative unions and 65,900 cooperative groups nationwide continue to play an important role in community development.

Similar to the national trend, the collective economy and cooperatives in Dong Nai are receiving increasing attention. The province now has 881 cooperatives, people’s credit funds and two cooperative unions, along with more than 1,000 cooperative groups (of which 644 cooperatives are currently operating). Dong Nai also has over 1 million hectares of agricultural land, holding major comparative advantages in agricultural development, especially for long-term industrial crops and fruit trees, and significant potential for pig, poultry and aquaculture farming, forming favorable conditions for cooperative development.

At the 2025 Cooperative Economy and Cooperatives Forum themed “Effective linkage between cooperatives and businesses,” held on  November 28, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung stressed that Resolution No. 68-NQ/TW of the Politburo affirms the viewpoint that the private economy, together with the state economy and the collective economy, forms the core force in building an independent, autonomous and resilient economy, associated with substantive and effective international integration, enabling the country to move towards prosperity.

According to Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung, the collective economy and private economy have close and complementary ties and hold an important role in the national economy. Cooperatives serve as a bridge in rural and agricultural production, while enterprises act as a bridge to markets. Cooperatives and enterprises become partners in forming cluster linkages along value chains, not only in agriculture but also in other sectors such as industry, tourism and services.

Therefore, to increase linkages between cooperatives and businesses, the Deputy Prime Minister requested the Ministry of Finance, relevant ministries and agencies to study mechanisms and policies, and recommend amendments or promulgation of documents related to the collective economy. To materialize this, a Government-wide plan should be developed soon, aligned with the actual development of today’s collective economic and cooperative model.

Along with its support in terms of mechanisms and policies, Dong Nai also focuses on promoting the development of the collective economy and cooperatives. In 2026, the province will organize seven training courses to update knowledge for collective economic development. Seventy percent of managers, members and workers at operating cooperatives in the province will be informed of the Party’s guidelines and the State’s policies and laws on collective economic development and the 2023 Law on Cooperatives.

Dong Nai expands connections between cooperatives and enterprises

Despite its significant potential, the cooperative system in Dong Nai still faces development challenges compared to other types of economy. According to Do Phuoc Dung, Acting Chairman of the Dong Nai Cooperative Alliance, most cooperatives are small-scale with limited capital and management capacity, and low operational efficiency. The number of cooperatives that have ceased operations or are awaiting dissolution remains high. Value-chain linkages are still inadequate, and only a small number of cooperatives participate in the chains, mainly in traditional agricultural products. The linkage between cooperatives and enterprises has produced initial results but still faced many limitations, especially regarding cooperative capacity. Recently, the Dong Nai Cooperative Alliance and other units have made efforts to promote linkages in production between cooperatives and enterprises, contributing to economic development, particularly the collective economy in rural areas.

Suoi Cat Cooperative (Xuan Loc commune) is a typical example of agricultural linkage. The cooperative has signed product purchase contracts with Marou Company, ensuring stable output for farmers. It also focuses on deep processing and product development to increase value, expanding markets to France, Japan, Singapore, China and the United States. In addition, the cooperative invests in science and technology applications and implements the large-field model, increasing income to VND 500–700 million per hectare per year.

Similarly, Tan Quyet Thang Cooperative (Tan Trieu ward) specializes in producing technical products to apply modern technology in wastewater treatment for enterprises and production facilities. According to Nguyen Chi Hung, Director of the cooperative, the unit is working with an environmental science enterprise to strengthen the application of new technology and environmental solutions. Industrial wastewater treatment applications for manufacturing, healthcare, livestock and domestic water filtration systems have been provided to several major entities inside and outside the province.

From the business side, Dang Quy Nhan, General Director of Mekong Trading Service Production Joint Stock Company (Ho Chi Minh City), said the company is cooperating with farmers and cooperatives in Dong Nai to develop banana material areas for export. According to him, storage plays a decisive role in agricultural products. The company has been investing with cooperatives in initial storage using standard cold storage systems. Therefore, for sustainable development, farmers and cooperatives must move towards green and safe production. Businesses and cooperatives need further policy support from the State to mobilize more resources for development.

By Vuong The – Translated by M.Nguyet, Thu Ha