Improve professionalism in investment promotion activities

(Baonghean) - In order to attract investment more effectively and at the same time best support businesses and investors in the process of researching and implementing projects as well as resolving arising problems, the Provincial People's Committee has proposed and received permission from the Prime Minister to establish an Investment Promotion and Support Center under the Provincial People's Committee.

Nghe An Newspaper had an interview with comrade Le Ngoc Hoa - Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee on this issue.

PV:In recent years, Nghe An has issued many preferential investment policies to promote investment attraction for socio-economic development and achieved many important results. Could you please tell us about the necessity of establishing an Investment Promotion and Investment Support Center under the Provincial People's Committee?

Comrade Le Ngoc Hoa:With the focus on leadership and direction to improve the investment environment, Nghe An province has built and issued additional mechanisms and incentive policies to encourage businesses and investors to create a legal corridor and a favorable investment and business environment. Thanks to that, Nghe An province's investment activities have achieved important results, contributing positively to the province's socio-economic development; gradually improving and enhancing the province's competitiveness index.

Nghe An provincial leaders introduce Nam Cam Industrial Park to Korean enterprises. Photo: Archive.

In order to carry out activities of calling for, promoting, and seeking investment opportunities, aiming to attract domestic and foreign investment into Nghe An, as well as to advise, support, guide and provide information to enterprises in the province in researching, selecting investment projects and procedures related to investment, the Provincial People's Committee issued Decision No. 3576/QD.UB.NV dated September 22, 2004 on the establishment of Nghe An Investment Promotion Center - a revenue-generating public service unit under the Department of Planning and Investment. Since its inception, the Investment Promotion Center has actively carried out its assigned tasks. Thanks to that, the province's investment attraction work has achieved many important results.

However, the current investment promotion and support work has not yet met the requirements. To increase competitiveness in the “new environment”, the province needs to have a breakthrough solution to improve the CPI index. To continue attracting investment, at the same time, to best support businesses and investors in the process of researching and implementing projects as well as resolving arising problems, there needs to be a focal agency to help investors.

This agency must overcome the limitations in investment promotion activities, reduce cumbersome administrative procedures and multiple focal points as before, contribute to improving the investment environment, creating a breakthrough in the economic and social development of the province. To implement this model, the provincial leaders organized study tours to administrative reform models in localities such as Quang Ninh and Vinh Phuc.

Based on that reality, the Provincial People's Committee proposed and was approved by the Prime Minister to establish the Provincial Investment Promotion and Support Center. The establishment of the center is very necessary, especially in the context of the need to increase all resources to attract investment as a foundation for socio-economic development.

PV:To improve the professionalism in investment promotion activities, the province needs a focal agency. So, what are the functions and tasks of the provincial Investment Promotion and Support Center and how is the roadmap for establishing this center implemented?

Comrade Le Ngoc Hoa:Nghe An Investment Promotion and Support Center (Nghe An IPC) was established on the basis of reorganizing the Investment Promotion and Development Consulting Center under the Department of Planning and Investment. This will be the focal point, advising the Provincial People's Committee to organize investment promotion activities, attract domestic and foreign investment into the province; support investors throughout the operation process.

In addition, the Investment Promotion and Support Center is also the focal point for guiding and receiving and transferring to competent authorities to handle administrative procedures in the investment sector according to the one-stop mechanism; Monitoring, inspecting and urging the implementation of investment promotion and support tasks.

This is a public service unit with revenue under the People's Committee of Nghe An province, under the direct direction of the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee. The Center has legal status, a seal and is allowed to open accounts at the State Treasury and banks to operate in accordance with the law.

Thus, the establishment of the center will create a breakthrough in administrative reform, aiming at the goal of building e-government, deploying online public services, and is a solution to implement Resolution 35 of the Government on supporting businesses; contributing to promoting investment promotion activities, exploiting the potential advantages of the province, successfully implementing the Resolution of the 18th Provincial Party Congress and Resolution 26 of the Politburo.

Therefore, since September 2016, the Project to Establish the Center for Investment Promotion and Support, along with the draft Decision on Establishing the Center for Investment Promotion and Support, was submitted to the Provincial People's Committee. The Party Committee of the Provincial People's Committee listened to and agreed to give opinions on the project to submit to the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee for comments in October 2016. The Provincial People's Committee organized to collect opinions from the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Planning and Investment on the project in November 2016. The Provincial People's Committee issued the project and submitted it to the Ministry of Home Affairs for appraisal and submission to the Prime Minister.

On December 16, 2016, the Prime Minister issued Decision 2465 on the establishment of the Nghe An Investment Promotion and Support Center in December 2016. It is expected that the Provincial People's Committee will organize a ceremony to announce the establishment of the Center and officially put it into operation from January 6, 2017.

PV:So, to promote the role of focal point, actively support businesses in the province as well as businesses from other places coming to invest and develop in the province, how will the center develop its operating plan, comrade?

Comrade Le Ngoc Hoa:2016 is considered a successful year for investment promotion activities thanks to the innovation of investment attraction methods with focus and key points. In particular, provincial leaders have directly promoted investment in countries such as Japan and Korea, thereby attracting businesses and investors to explore investment opportunities in Nghe An. The establishment of the Investment Promotion and Support Center will be the premise to continue to create a breakthrough in the province's investment promotion work.

Delegation of Nghe An business officials visited agricultural production enterprises in Japan.

Therefore, immediately after coming into operation, the center will quickly advise the Provincial People's Committee to issue regulations on the functions, tasks, and organizational structure of the center and issue coordination regulations between the center and departments, branches, People's Committees of districts, cities and related agencies. Publicize procedures for investors on the center's website.

At the same time, the center will soon advise on developing a plan to organize domestic and foreign investment promotion conferences. Develop an investment promotion plan in traditional countries and new partners based on clearly identifying the key markets, key points and advantages of each country and region.

On the other hand, continue to research investment opportunities, potential development markets and build investment promotion strategies to identify industries and fields with strengths of the province to prioritize investment attraction. Gradually promote professional activities according to assigned functions and tasks such as: Strengthening propaganda about the potential and advantages of Nghe An through working sessions and seminars with domestic and foreign agencies and organizations; participating in investment promotion activities,... coordinating with districts, cities, departments, branches and sectors to conduct surveys on the current status, synthesize data, and list of projects calling for investment in fields in the province.

In addition, the center will be more proactive in consulting and removing "bottlenecks" in the investment environment: mechanisms and preferential policies to support investors; reforming administrative procedures, strengthening planning, adjusting planning of sectors and localities... Thereby, creating more resources for investment promotion, creating a new wind for the investment environment, contributing to improving the province's competitiveness index.

With the motto of creating the highest satisfaction by providing the best support to investors, thereby contributing to improving the province's competitiveness index, the center will continue to innovate investment promotion activities, especially in mobilization methods and improve professionalism, operating effectively to attract more new projects and resources. At the same time, it will best support the process of researching and implementing projects of enterprises so that Nghe An becomes a successful destination for investors.

PV:Thanks comrade!

Thanh Le

(Perform)