Digital transformation: The "key" to opening new economic development directions for ethnic minority areas in Thai Nguyen

In recent years, Thai Nguyen province has made efforts to synchronously deploy many solutions to implement the National Target Program on socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas for the 2021-2025 period.

Collective economy and cooperatives promote digital transformation in the ethnic minority region

By 2025, Thai Nguyen province has 1,299 cooperatives, attracting over 46,600 members, operating in diverse fields such as agriculture , industry, construction, trade, services and people's credit. This number not only reflects the growth rate in quantity, but more importantly, shows a clear expansion in model quality. The collective economic and cooperative models are bringing about clear efficiency in agricultural production, agricultural product processing, OCOP product development and building a sustainable chain of links between farmers, cooperatives and enterprises.

In Nghia Ta commune, where ethnic minorities account for 98% of the population, people are guided to develop the forest economy. Thanks to programs to support production land and job conversion, many households have formed a chain of links from planting, caring, exploiting to processing wood. As a result, many families have achieved an income of billions of dong each year, vivid proof of the effectiveness of the province's livelihood policy.

Thuong Minh Commune is oriented to develop specialty crops such as fragrant green squash, Tai sticky rice, arrowroot, tea, star anise... Here, Yen Duong Cooperative has linked production with hundreds of households, building an OCOP brand that meets 3 to 4 star standards, including Yen Duong arrowroot vermicelli, Le Ha tea, fragrant squash, Tai sticky rice. These products not only help ethnic minority people increase their income but also affirm the position of Thai Nguyen highland agricultural products in the market.

Cooperatives in Thai Nguyen province have actively transformed digitally, applied science and technology, and gradually brought agricultural products to consumers nationwide. Photo: PV

Along with that, digital platforms and e-commerce are identified by Thai Nguyen as a "strategic direction", creating more flexible space for Thai Nguyen products to reach out, especially products of ethnic minority people. The "Ban Viet - Thai Nguyen" booth on Shopee is one of the highlights, with 94 products and product sets, 125 livestream sessions and 1,140 orders successfully sold.

Ms. Bui Thi Hai Yen - Director of Ban Viet Cooperative shared that each livestream session is organized with the goal of introducing products in a systematic way, combining Facebook to lead customers to place orders. More than 1,140 orders are an opportunity for Thai Nguyen agricultural products to reach modern customers, opening a direction for sustainable development. Not only stopping at Shopee, Thai Nguyen also uses TikTok as a "digital fair". Programs such as "Thai Nguyen OCOP Fair 2025" or "Number custard apple and Thai Nguyen agricultural products in 2025" bring authentic experiences to consumers.

Each livestream session is a journey from garden to table, where customers can follow the production process, understand the quality and cultural value of the product. This is also a way for localities to meet the requirements of the national target program on expanding output, increasing competitiveness and promoting highland products to integrate into the market.

Digital transformation, strengthening links to expand markets

The Thai Nguyen Province Cooperative Alliance has deployed a series of solutions to support cooperatives in changing their management thinking and operating methods. Hundreds of cooperatives have been supported in using accounting software, electronic books, warehouse management systems, electronic invoices, etc. to help with financial transparency, standardize processes, and reduce errors. Many agricultural cooperatives have boldly applied IoT and environmental sensors in tea, vegetable, and aquaculture production, helping to reduce losses by 15-20% while improving product quality.

Ms. Ca Thi Bay, Director of Hong Phat Agricultural Cooperative (Nghien Loan commune) shared: Product promotion is always a challenge due to the lack of specialized human resources and digital skills. With the support of the Provincial Cooperative Union, we have been guided in editing and posting products, learning how to take photos and shoot videos, thereby expanding our ability to reach customers and improving sales efficiency.

The Provincial Cooperative Alliance identifies online markets as a tool to enhance digital capacity for the collective economic sector. Ms. Vu Thi Thu Huong, Vice President of the Provincial Cooperative Alliance, emphasized: We will continue to support cooperatives in building brands, perfecting images and videos, and promoting on chothainguyen.vn as well as other digital channels. The goal is to help mountainous products increase value, expand the market, and create a sustainable position.

Ms. Ma Thi Ninh - Director of Yen Duong Cooperative said that 100% of the cooperative's products have traceability codes. Currently, over 90% of the cooperative's revenue comes from digital platforms such as Shopee, Facebook, Zalo, TikTok. Information transparency helps the cooperative expand its market, affirm product quality, and promote the economy of ethnic minority and mountainous areas.

Source: https://daibieunhandan.vn/chuyen-doi-so-chia-khoa-mo-huong-phat-tien-kinh-te-moi-cho-vung-dong-bao-dan-toc-thieu-so-o-thai-nguyen-10398166.html