PCI Index 2019: Nghe An increases rank, reaches highest level ever

On the morning of May 5, in Hanoi, the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) in collaboration with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) announced the Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI) 2019.

According to the announced results, the top of this year's ranking is Quang Ninh with 73.40 points, followed by Dong Thap (72.10 points), Vinh Long (71.30 points), Bac Ninh (70.79 points), Da Nang (70.15 points). The bottom group in PCI 2019 is Lai Chau, Dak Nong, Binh Phuoc, Ha Giang and Bac Kan.

Nghe An PCI Index 2014 - 2019. Graphics: Huu Quan

According to the assessment results, in 2019, Nghe An province ranked 18th with 66.64 points, up 1 place compared to 2018, leading the North Central provinces.

This is the highest position ever of Nghe An province. The PCI ranking results demonstrate the efforts of the authorities at all levels and the people in improving the business environment, the quality of economic management and the efforts of administrative reform, the investment environment of the authorities at all levels in the province,...

Provincial Competitiveness Index PCI 2019.

The PCI 2019 Report is the 15th consecutive annual publication jointly developed and published by VCCI and USAID, aiming to evaluate and rank the business environment and economic management quality of provinces and cities in Vietnam.

With the participation of nearly 12,500 enterprises, PCI is the "collection of voices" of the domestic and foreign business community on the level of reform in each field of administration, the quality of administrative procedure settlement, the quality of human resources and infrastructure in Vietnam.

In particular, for the first time, the PCI 2019 report analyzes the automation and digitalization trends in the production of goods and service provision of Vietnamese enterprises, forecasting the impacts of these trends on labor and employment in the coming time.

Local departments and branches handle administrative procedures for people. Photo: Thanh Le

The PCI 2019 survey results show a fairly bright picture of Vietnam’s business environment. The quality of economic management of provinces and cities in Vietnam last year continued to maintain an improving momentum.

The average PCI score reached an all-time high. The top province increased its score, and the gap between the bottom province and the top group continued to narrow. Infrastructure quality improved significantly.

Informal costs continue to be cut, the business environment for private enterprises is gradually becoming more equal, security and order are more assured, and administrative procedures are changing in a positive direction.

However, it is still necessary to further increase publicity and transparency, improve the quality of labor and business support services, as well as strongly reform administrative procedures after business registration, and cut down on more substantial business conditions.