(VOVWORLD) - Quang Ninh led the 2020 Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI) rankings, marking the fourth consecutive year the locality took the first place in the list. The achievement was attributed to improvements in economic management and cost of market entry, supportive measures to remove difficulties for investors and businesses, and quick and flexible responses to improve businesses’ resilience against the COVID-19 pandemic.
 The establishment of public administrative centers at all levels proves a breakthrough in Quang Ninh’s administrative reform. |
Quang Ninh has retained its top position in the 2020 PCI rankings which were jointly produced by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
According to the latest ranking released in the middle of this month, Quang Ninh scored 75.09, making it the fourth time in a row and the 8th consecutive year it has been on the list of top 5 provinces and central cities with excellent quality of economic management.
Quang Ninh saw a significant improvement in some component indexes such as cost of market entry, access to land, cost of time, and business support services.
Administrative reform is considered one major breakthrough.
In 2012, Quang Ninh was the first province to pilot the model of district and provincial-level public administrative centers to gradually modernize the public administration and improve the quality of public services to serve people and businesses.
Administrative procedures have been publicized transparently with the time and costs reduced from 40 to 60%. The time needed to handle a number of procedures has been cut down to 70%. A provincial Investment Promotion and Support Committee has been established under the provincial People's Committee to provide direct support for investors.
Dao Phong Truc Dai, Director General of Viet Hung Industrial Park Development Company, said, “We have deployed investment projects in different cities and provinces but this is the first time we have been granted an investment license within 24 hours.”
He added, “Quang Ninh has truly impressed us with reformed administrative procedures and close direction from the provincial Party Committee, People’s Committee, departments, and sectors in shortening the time for investment preparations.”
Quang Ninh has boosted IT application towards building a digital government and a smart city. More than 85% of the province’s public services are made available online, so are e-payment system, and connection to the National Public Service Portal. Quang Ninh is one of the first provinces to pilot a smart city operation center.
Quang Ninh's reform is based on the human factor, drastically streamlining the political apparatus, and listening to the opinions of investors and businesses.
According to Dao Duy Hao, Vice Chairman of the provincial Business Association, “The local authorities have organized seminars and tours to understand the activities of businesses.”
Hao took an example, “at the monthly "entrepreneur coffee" session with businesses, the authorities listen and help to address their difficulties, especially the ones caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Projects calling for investment have been publicized, helping enterprises to easily follow. We speak highly of the transparency.”
The application of the public-private partnership model to airport, seaport, and highway projects has helped Quang Ninh improve all of its infrastructure, renovate growth models, and restructure the economy.
 At the conference to announce the DDCI index 2020 |
Nguyen Tuong Van, Chairman of the provincial People's Committee, said Quang Ninh has professionally implemented the Department and District Competitiveness Index (DDCI).
“The point is what Quang Ninh should do to retain its top position. Realizing the importance of PCI in local socio-economic development, the Provincial Party Congress Resolution until 2025 has set an annual target to retain the leading position in the national rankings of PCI, the Public Administration Reform Index (PAR Index), the Satisfaction Index of Public Administrative Services (SIPAS), and the Provincial Governance and Public Administration Performance Index (PAPI),” said Van, adding, “This is the way the entire political system of Quang Ninh has committed to investors, businesses, and people in an effort to promote a working government, by the people and for the people.”
Quang Ninh has developed a project to accelerate administrative reform, improve the business environment, and increase competitiveness based on IT application in management and governance.