From agricultural "support" to economic development driver

From investment projects to breakthrough export turnover of key products, the indicators are not only achievements but also reflect new driving forces that are being opened up, showing positive signals to reach the growth target of 8%.

After a turbulent first half of 2025, Dak Lak province's agricultural sector has strived to overcome difficulties, firmly affirming its role as a "support" for the economy . With a strong transformation, not only depending on key crops, the province's agriculture is becoming a launching pad for multi-dimensional development, creating momentum from both the East and West regions, towards a sustainable future.

Central leaders, provincial leaders and investors performed the ceremony of pressing the button to start 3 major projects. Photo: H. Nhu

A notable highlight in the first 7 months of 2025 is the breakthrough of the Western region - the main driving force for agricultural products, with about 384,000 hectares of perennial crops, contributing significantly to the province's export turnover. In particular, durian is becoming the most vibrant industry in the market, with an expected output of about 392,000 tons in the 2025 crop year, ranking second in the country. To date, the whole province has 269 approved growing area codes and 40 packaging facilities, creating a solid legal corridor for agricultural products to access demanding markets. In addition, aquaculture and fisheries activities continue to maintain growth momentum, with aquaculture output reaching 17,397 tons, up 6.45% and exploitation output reaching more than 10,498 tons, up 1.4% over the same period in 2024, contributing to stabilizing livelihoods and aquatic product supply.

The recovery and development of the provincial economy is also clearly demonstrated through a series of remarkable indicators of industry and trade. Compared to the same period last year, the index of industrial production (IIP) in the first 7 months of the year increased by 12.5%; total export turnover in the first 7 months is estimated at nearly 1.8 billion USD, up 32.5%. Notably, the output of some key industrial products increased compared to the same period; total retail sales of goods and consumer service revenue also reached more than 106,000 billion VND, up 13.9%. This is evidence of the revival of manufacturing industries, creating momentum for the overall growth of the whole province, as well as showing the ability of local enterprises to penetrate and expand international markets. At the same time, it reflects the strong growth of domestic purchasing power and trade activities.

Dak Lak durian is being purchased by businesses for official export to the Chinese market. Photo: M.Thuan

Along with that, investment attraction and promotion work has increasingly affirmed its role as one of the important driving forces for growth. Since the beginning of the year, the province has had 30 projects approved for investment, with a total registered capital of over 15,530 billion VND; adjusting investment policies for 58 projects. Notably, the province has actively supported the completion of procedures to launch 3 major projects in the South Phu Yen Economic Zone. These figures show the growing attraction of Dak Lak to the business community, especially in the context of localities competing fiercely to attract domestic and foreign investment capital.

"To achieve the target set for 2025, in the coming time, departments, branches and localities must promote site clearance work; focus on reviewing and removing difficulties and obstacles, speeding up the implementation of projects, especially key and inter-regional projects. The most important thing is to do a good job of ideological work, maintain solidarity within agencies and units; uphold the spirit of responsibility and dedication to the common work".

Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Ta Anh Tuan

To maintain growth momentum and achieve the annual GRDP growth target of 8%, Dak Lak must achieve a growth rate of 8.64% in the final months of the year. This is a big challenge but also a driving force for the province to focus on breakthrough solutions.

According to the Department of Agriculture and Environment, the Dak Lak agricultural sector continues to review and propose adjustments to legal documents to ensure smooth operation of local governments at two levels. In addition, strictly implementing the Government's directives on combating illegal fishing (IUU) is a key task. Efforts to remove the "yellow card" of the European Commission (EC) will open up great opportunities for the seafood export industry.

Mr. Nguyen Minh Huan, Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment, said that the department will proactively develop plans and growth scenarios for each sector (cultivation, livestock, aquaculture, forestry), and new growth drivers to ensure overall growth of the industry in the last months of 2025. In particular, the Department of Agriculture and Environment is urgently developing a digital transformation project for the entire agricultural sector, in which the application of digital platforms and traceability technology will be prioritized, contributing to strengthening the trust of consumers and international partners.

Along with the "support" of the agricultural sector, Dak Lak also identifies sustainable industrial development as the main driving force for economic growth. Therefore, the province is synchronously implementing administrative reform solutions, improving the investment and business environment, combined with mobilizing many other resources to synchronously develop infrastructure in the South Phu Yen Economic Zone, ready to welcome investors to create new growth momentum as the top priority task. This contributes significantly to the socio-economic development of the province in the coming time and aims to achieve the double-digit growth target in the period of 2026 - 2030.

Accelerating disbursement of projects plays an important role in realizing the goals set for 2025. In the photo: Construction of Component Project 3 of the Khanh Hoa - Buon Ma Thuot Expressway Project Phase 1. Photo: K. Le

In addition, Dak Lak is focusing on implementing a series of activities to support businesses, promote trade and export, especially finding and accessing new, potential markets. One of the key tasks is to build a database to serve the province's trade, tourism and service promotion activities. At the same time, Dak Lak will implement the National E-commerce Project by 2025, with special attention to building cross-border sales solutions for businesses with export needs.

Mr. Tran Van Tan, Director of the Department of Finance, said that Dak Lak does not only stop at increasing the number of projects, but also focuses on quality, aiming at dynamic projects with spillover effects. The province continues to prioritize calling for investment in the fields of renewable energy, high-tech agriculture, processing industry, resort tourism, etc. These are industries that can exploit local advantages, while creating sustainable added value. Not only simply inviting businesses, the province proactively reforms administration, creates a transparent and open investment environment, and enhances the province's competitiveness on the regional economic map. The recent launch of major projects such as Hoa Tam Industrial Park - Phase 1, Investment in the construction of Bai Goc Port, and High-tech Industrial Park is expected to open up new development space for the province, forming new growth poles for Dak Lak in the coming time.

Source: https://baodaklak.vn/kinh-te/202509/tu-be-do-nong-nghiep-den-dong-luc-phat-trien-kinh-te-85b0efb/