Gia Lai, home to more than 977,000 hectares of farmland, including 753,000 hectares of fertile red basalt soil, has long been a hub for coffee, pepper, rubber, bananas, passion fruit, durian, watermelon, and coconuts.
These crops are increasingly being developed for official exports to China, one of the world’s largest and most demanding markets.
The province currently maintains 248 planting area codes covering over 10,000 hectares and operates 40 packing facilities with a combined capacity of 1,800 tons per day.
These measures have helped local producers comply with China’s strict food safety, traceability, and technical standards, shifting exports from informal border trade to official trade channels.
Enterprises are also investing in deep processing to add value and improve competitiveness.
Vinanutrifood Binh Dinh JSC, for example, has implemented an artificial intelligence (AI) and big data plantation management system, enabling real-time monitoring of crop health, moisture, pests, and weather.
“To go far, we cannot just sell what we have; we must create products the market needs,” said Nguyen Thi Diem Hang, the company’s general director.
Other firms, such as Thagrico Cao Nguyen Fruit Co., Nafoods Tay Nguyen JSC, Gia Lai Livestock JSC, and Tin Thanh Dat JSC, are adopting similar technology-driven approaches while actively promoting products at trade fairs and exhibitions.
Thagrico recently signed a deal to export durian to Guangxi, China, expanding the province’s footprint in the market.
Authorities are also ramping up support. The Department of Industry and Trade has coordinated with the national Trade Promotion Agency to help businesses participate in major Chinese fairs, including the Kunming Fair, the China-ASEAN Expo in Nanning, and the China International Import Expo in Shanghai. Products are also promoted on e-commerce platforms such as Alibaba to widen market access.
Nguyen Dinh Kha, deputy director of the Department of Industry and Trade, noted that training programs on plantation management, traceability, and regulatory compliance are being expanded, alongside efforts to improve logistics and streamline procedures to reduce costs.
At the Vietnam-China Trade Promotion Conference in August 2025, Standing Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Tuan Thanh underlined the strategic importance of the Chinese market.
“We encourage businesses to focus on quality, deep processing, and systematic promotion,” he said, pledging continued government support to build Gia Lai’s agricultural brand in China.
The shift to official exports not only enhances the value of Gia Lai’s products but also strengthens the province’s long-term goal of building a sustainable and reputable agricultural presence in the international market.