In 2026, the provincial collective economy and cooperative sector continued reinforcing their role in reorganising production, strengthening market linkages while improving economic efficiency. Building on this foundation, the province is accelerating the development of a modern cooperative ecosystem driven by technology alongside integrated value chains.

According to the provincial Cooperative Alliance, the province currently has 1,255 cooperatives, eight cooperative unions and 510 cooperative groups, with agricultural cooperatives accounting for more than 69% of the total. Numerous agricultural cooperatives have proactively transformed their operations, shifting beyond supplying production inputs to organising raw material areas, controlling product quality, processing agricultural products, developing brands while expanding market access.

To date, around 185 cooperatives have established partnerships with 34 enterprises, 276 farms of various size, more than 15,500 farming households together with five scientific organisations. These partnerships have helped develop stable raw material areas, enabling the consistent application of technical standards while improving compliance with market requirements.

Comrade Luong Nguyen Minh Triet, Member of the Party Central Committee and Secretary of the Dak Lak Provincial Party Committee, visiting product displays presented by outstanding cooperatives in Dak Lak Province.

Outstanding examples include the Ea Kiet Fair Trade Agricultural and Services Cooperative, producing Fairtrade-certified coffee, alongside the Ea Tu Fair Trade Agricultural and Services Cooperative, developing speciality coffee in line with international standards. Numerous other cooperatives have invested in agricultural processing while integrating community-based and experiential tourism, thereby generating higher added value coupled with diversifying income sources.

By mid-2026, the province had 104 agricultural cooperatives adopting high technologies in production, processing and product traceability, while implementing standards such as VietGAP and Fairtrade. Many cooperatives have also adopted QR codes, e-invoices combined with digital platforms for management and product promotion.

Industrial promotion, trade promotion, OCOP product development and digital transformation programmes continue providing fresh momentum for cooperative innovation. In 2026 alone, three industrial promotion projects directly supported cooperatives with total funding exceeding 1.529 billion VND.

Creating an ecosystem for cooperative innovation

Dak Lak possesses significant advantages, including extensive agricultural and forestry raw material areas, a marine economy, tourism resources, as well as considerable potential for processing industries, trade and logistics. These strengths provide a solid foundation for developing interregional value chains, with cooperatives serving as the vital connectors linking local producers, enterprises alongside markets.

In 2027, the province aims to establish 60 new cooperatives. The number of high-tech agricultural cooperatives is expected to increase to 175, while 250 agricultural cooperatives are targeted to establish value chain partnerships with enterprises.

The Clean Agricultural Services Cooperative in Krong Pac commune promoting science and technology applications in the cultivation together with management of durian orchards.

Comrade Luong Nguyen Minh Triet, Member of the Party Central Committee and Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, called on the provincial Cooperative Alliance to proactively propose innovative along with practical solutions so that the collective economy becomes a true engine of growth for socio-eco development, contributing to the provincial double-digit growth target. A key priority is developing new-generation cooperatives closely integrated with technology, the green economy, the circular economy, ecological and organic agriculture, together with value-chain development.

According to Ms. Cao Xuan Thu Van, Chairwoman of the Vietnam Cooperative Alliance, Dak Lak possesses favourable conditions for the robust development of the collective economy, ranging from specialised coffee-growing areas coupled with fertile basalt soils to its forestry, fisheries and tourism potential, as well as its rich cultural heritage. She noted that cooperatives represent not merely an economic model but also an organisational approach enabling small-scale producers to reach larger markets while sharing development opportunities.

"The mission of Dak Lak's collective economy is not simply to establish more cooperatives, but to build genuinely strong cooperatives capable of organising raw material areas, undertaking deep processing, leading markets, owning brands, leveraging data alongside technology, and competing internationally", Ms. Cao Xuan Thu Van emphasised.

Translated by KHUONG THAO