‘Cooperative stars’ of Gia Lai: Building growth through trust, jobs and community commitment

In a conversation with reporters from Gia Lai Newspaper and Radio & Television, both cooperative leaders focused less on profits and business figures and more on the values they believe underpin long-term success: product quality, stable employment and meaningful contributions to local communities.

Behind the recognition, they said, lies a years-long commitment to building trust and creating tangible benefits for members and residents alike.

* Behind the “Cooperative Star” title are strong operational results. Could you share your cooperative’s development journey?

- Mr. Nguyễn Xuân Thạch:

Binh De Construction Stone Production Cooperative was established in 1998 and operates in several sectors, including construction stone quarrying and production, unbaked brick manufacturing, petroleum trading, and the construction of civil, industrial, transport and irrigation projects.

In 2024, the cooperative generated revenue of more than VND37 billion (approximately US$1.42 million) and profit of VND1.6 billion (approximately US$61,500). In 2025, revenue rose to VND38 billion (approximately US$1.46 million), while profit exceeded VND1.7 billion (approximately US$65,400).

- Mr. Trần Đình Thọ: Founded in 1980, Thuong Giang Agricultural Cooperative provides agricultural production services and develops value chains for seed rice, sesame and peanuts. It also supplies agricultural inputs, electricity and waste collection services.

Between 2018 and 2022, annual profits ranged from just over VND500 million (approximately US$19,200) to VND900 million (approximately US$34,600). Profit increased to VND1.3 billion (approximately US$50,000) in 2024 and reached VND1.6 billion (approximately US$61,500) in 2025.

* What are the key foundations that have enabled your cooperatives to sustain growth over the years?

- Mr. Nguyễn Xuân Thạch: The most important factor is our ability to develop and implement business strategies suited to changing conditions.

Alongside optimizing production processes to reduce costs and improve quality, Binh De Cooperative places a strong emphasis on credibility. For construction projects, we ensure materials meet required standards and that projects are completed on schedule and according to approved designs. That commitment has helped us attract new customers.

- Mr. Trần Đình Thọ: In the early years, local agricultural production faced significant challenges because of hilly terrain, poor soil quality and limited irrigation.

In response, the cooperative gradually built a system providing high-quality, traceable agricultural inputs, technical guidance and support for product marketing.

As farmers saw production costs fall and productivity improve, confidence in the cooperative steadily strengthened.

* How has support from local authorities and relevant sectors contributed to your development?

- Mr. Nguyễn Xuân Thạch: The cooperative has consistently received support from local authorities in handling legal procedures and environmental requirements. Local authorities have also facilitated our participation in a number of civil construction projects, creating additional revenue opportunities.

- Mr. Trần Đình Thọ: Support from agricultural agencies and local authorities has been essential in identifying suitable crops, guiding production transformation and implementing pilot models before wider adoption.

As a result, the cooperative has successfully developed a seed rice value chain that supplies around 80 tonnes of seed rice each year to the South Central Coastal Agricultural Science and Technology Institute.

Our sesame and peanut production linkage model also purchases between seven and eight tonnes of products annually. Meanwhile, a 50-hectare large-scale field model has helped nearly 300 households increase yields from six tonnes per hectare to 7.2 tonnes per hectare.

* Cooperative success is measured not only by financial performance but also by the jobs created for local people. How important is that role?

- Mr. Nguyễn Xuân Thạch: Since 1994, I have also served as Party Cell Secretary in the locality, and job creation has always been one of my priorities.

The cooperative currently employs 80 regular workers with monthly salaries starting from VND6 million (approximately US$230), all of whom are covered by social insurance. Another 80 contract workers receive health insurance support from the cooperative, while more than 160 workers are covered by occupational accident insurance.

We prioritize local recruitment, including recent graduates and young people who do not pursue university education, and then provide vocational and professional training opportunities.

- Mr. Trần Đình Thọ: In addition to profit-sharing based on capital contributions, access to affordable services and participation in production value chains, the cooperative creates jobs for 34 local workers.

Monthly salaries range from VND5 million (approximately US$192) to VND10 million (approximately US$385) per person.

* Economic development often goes hand in hand with social responsibility. What motivates your continued community engagement?

- Mr. Nguyễn Xuân Thạch: Each year, Binh De Cooperative allocates between VND100 million (approximately US$3,850) and VND150 million (approximately US$5,770) for welfare activities benefiting members and local residents. These include visits to sick residents, holiday and Lunar New Year gifts, support for policy beneficiary families and assistance for people affected by natural disasters.

For Hamlet 6 of An Hoa Commune, our twinned locality, the cooperative provides annual support of VND25 million (approximately US$960) to VND30 million (approximately US$1,150).

We have also contributed VND600 million (approximately US$23,100) toward the construction of the hamlet’s traditional house, along with hundreds of millions of dong for concrete roads and cemetery projects.

- Mr. Trần Đình Thọ: We believe our achievements are made possible by the support and trust of members and the community. Therefore, when the cooperative performs well, it has a responsibility to share those benefits.

Every year, we allocate between VND45 million (approximately US$1,730) and VND50 million (approximately US$1,920) from our welfare fund for Lunar New Year gifts, support for members facing unexpected difficulties, scholarships and Mid-Autumn Festival activities for children.

In addition, through our participation in local irrigation projects, the cooperative contributes about VND200 million (approximately US$7,690) annually toward construction costs.

* The “Cooperative Star” title is an important recognition, but what comes next?

- Mr. Nguyễn Xuân Thạch: Some of our services have delivered limited profitability in recent years, but they remain important for maintaining an integrated value chain and optimizing overall operations.

Looking ahead, the cooperative will continue its existing business activities while studying and investing in artificial sand production from stone, with the aim of increasing revenue and securing materials for local construction projects.

- Mr. Trần Đình Thọ: Thuong Giang Agricultural Cooperative will continue expanding its successful services and production value chains.

We are also working to upgrade our “Thuong Giang Peanut Oil” and “Thuong Giang Sesame Oil” products to achieve four-star OCOP status. This will help increase product value, expand market opportunities and strengthen demand for locally produced agricultural goods.