Looking back at the 2020-2025 term, the cooperative community has not only stood firm but has also undergone a powerful transformation, creating a solid momentum to enter a new era of green economy, digital transformation, and sustainable development for the 2025-2030 period.

During the recent term, the Executive Board of the Điện Biên provincial Cooperative Alliance alongside the local cooperative community turned challenges into motivation to elevate the provincial collective economy.

The numbers provide clear evidence of these tireless efforts, as by the end of 2025, the province recorded 358 cooperatives, marking an increase of nearly 48% compared to the beginning of the term. Notably, 169 new cooperatives were established during this stage, exceeding the initial targets by 53.6%.

Beyond quantitative growth, the quality of these units improved significantly, with average annual revenue reaching approximately VND 2.08 billion and average profits hitting VND 197 million. Most importantly, the income for members and laborers, the most practical measure of success, reached VND 62 million per person annually, representing a 47.6% increase since 2020.

The landscape of the provincial collective economy has been colored by diverse industries that contribute actively to economic restructuring and rural development. Agriculture remains a steadfast pillar, accounting for 68.7% of the total cooperatives, where units have proactively applied scientific advances and new seed varieties to enhance productivity.

The trend toward safe and organic production is expanding, resulting in branded specialties such as Điện Biên rice, coffee, tea, macadamia, and pomelo. To date, 54 products from 43 cooperatives and collaborative groups have achieved 3 and 4-star OCOP certifications.

Meanwhile, in the industrial and handicraft sectors, 27 cooperatives have utilized local raw materials to create high-value traditional goods, while trade and service cooperatives have innovated to provide stable livelihoods despite fluctuations in fuel and material costs.

The achievements of the past five years owe much to the provincial Cooperative Alliance, which has acted as a dedicated representative and a supportive “midwife” for these units. In addition to advisory roles, the Alliance organized 53 training sessions for 3,000 cooperative officials, focusing on management, digital transformation, and e-commerce. They also facilitated capital support through the provincial Cooperative Development Support Fund and central entrusted sources, helping dozens of projects with billions of VND in disbursements. Trade promotion was also a highlight, as 25 cooperatives participated in major fairs in Hà Nội and Hồ Chí Minh City to bring local staples closer to national consumers.

Despite these successes, the provincial Cooperative Alliance frankly recognizes limitations that hinder the sector, such as the fact that 98.6% of cooperatives are still small or micro-scale with weak internal capacity and a lack of technology. Linkages within value chains remain unsustainable, and digital transformation is slow, particularly in remote areas where many agricultural cooperatives still lack basic internet equipment. These issues often stem from limited human resource quality and a lingering dependency on state support among some members.

Looking toward the 2030 horizon, the Alliance aims to focus on quality and sustainable efficiency rather than just numbers, striving for a total of nearly 400 cooperatives and 10,000 members. The targets include an average annual revenue of VND 2.3 billion per cooperative and worker incomes of VND 78 million. To realize this vision, the province will prioritize high-tech applications, human resource training, and the construction of sustainable value chains linked to the OCOP program. Cooperative economy is not just about financial gain but the values of sharing and equality, and building modern, humane cooperatives will be the key for Điện Biên farmers to prosper on their own land.

Phí Văn Dương

Chairman of the Điện Biên provincial Cooperative Alliance