Nghe An discusses solutions to improve PCI index in the coming period

Overview of the workshop to evaluate the PCI index of Nghe An province in 2021 and solutions to improve the PCI index in the coming period. Photo: Thanh Duy

POINT OUT BOTTOM LINES, BARRIERS, PROPOSE SOLUTIONS

Opening the workshop, Mr. Nguyen Duc Trung - Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee said that the Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI) plays a very important role, as a system reflecting objective information from enterprises about the provincial competitive environment; monitoring and evaluating the quality of governance, especially economic governance, the friendliness and convenience of the business environment and the administrative reform efforts of the government to promote economic development, especially the private economic sector.

Recognizing the importance of the PCI index, since 2012, Nghe An has developed a project to enhance provincial competitiveness and improve the business environment. Thanks to that, the province's PCI has had positive changes, especially in the period 2016-2020.

Comrade Nguyen Duc Trung - Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee delivered the opening speech at the workshop. Photo: Thanh Duy

The results show that the level and quality of improving the investment and business environment and improving the province's competitiveness are still slow and have not met the requirements; there are still barriers, bottlenecks and shortcomings in direction, administration and in the implementation of public services, especially in serving businesses.

In addition, the lack of breakthrough in improving the PCI index also shows that although the provincial government is interested, it is "struggling" and has not found the core problem of improving the investment and business environment in general and improving the PCI index in particular.

Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Duc Trung said that, following the direction of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee, in the coming time, Nghe An will focus on and be determined to improve the investment and business environment, and improve the PCI index in 2022 and the following years.

Leaders of departments, branches and sectors attended the workshop. Photo: Thanh Duy

With a receptive spirit, Nghe An wishes to listen to frank, direct, and objective analysis and assessments from the perspective of experts and businesses. On that basis, the province will have specific and effective solutions to improve and enhance competitiveness with the spirit of creating the most favorable conditions to serve the people and businesses, contributing to the development of the province in the coming time.

Speaking at the workshop, comrade Pham Tan Cong - Chairman of the Vietnam Federation of Commerce and Industry assessed that Nghe An is not yet a rich province, and is in the process of creating a foundation to be able to rise up and make a breakthrough in development. The business force is quite large but not strong. The capacity to attract investment from outside, especially attracting FDI from strategic investors, has not had many breakthroughs.

Comrade Pham Tan Cong - Chairman of Vietnam Federation of Commerce and Industry speaking at the workshop. Photo: Thanh Duy

Through research and updating information on the province's socio-economic situation and investment attraction orientation, VCCI found that Nghe An still has a lot of room for reform. However, the pace of reform needs to be stronger and more drastic, requiring the efforts and participation of the entire political apparatus to be able to fully exploit its potential and advantages.

At the workshop, Mr. Dau Anh Tuan - Deputy General Secretary, Head of the Legal Department of VCCI analyzed in detail the business environment and competitiveness; economic management quality of Nghe An province through PCI results; recommended solutions to improve the PCI index in 2022 and the following years, and shared some good experiences in improving the quality of economic management.

Mr. Dau Anh Tuan - Deputy Secretary General, Head of VCCI Legal Department presented a speech at the workshop. Photo: Thanh Duy

"In the coming time, the province needs to increase meetings and dialogues with businesses at many levels: General for the province, by field of each department, branch, by district, town... It is necessary to ensure that these meetings and dialogues have the participation of micro, small and medium enterprises; It is necessary to develop a program to support micro, small and medium private enterprises in the area, a program to promote the conversion of business households into enterprises; Conduct regular, substantive and scientific assessments of the implementation of departments, branches and districts", the Head of the VCCI Legal Department emphasized.

Sharing experiences in improving the business investment environment and enhancing provincial competitiveness, Ms. Vu Thi Kim Chi - Deputy Head of the Standing Committee of the Investment Promotion and Support Board of Quang Ninh province said that Quang Ninh always innovates its development thinking, closely follows reality, is concerned with finding bottlenecks, finding new motivations and resources; More drastically and effectively implementing large-scale investment programs, especially for strategic infrastructure, inter-regional transport infrastructure projects, "green" energy, "green" infrastructure, effectively implementing digital transformation; The locality also fully recognizes the role of economic sectors, in which the private economy is an important driving force; supporting businesses to promote production, business and improve competitiveness in the value chain.

Ms. Vu Thi Kim Chi - Deputy Head of the Standing Committee of the Investment Promotion and Support Board of Quang Ninh province shared experiences in improving the investment and business environment and enhancing provincial competitiveness. Photo: Thanh Duy

On the other hand, Quang Ninh province always strives to create an equal and fair institutional environment in accessing resources among business sectors and investors; Boldly piloting many new models in supporting businesses; Recognizing the importance of building strategic, international-class planning to attract investment resources; Boldly empowering the investor and business community to "measure" and evaluate the level of trust in the grassroots-level administrative apparatus: DDCI, DGI, SIPAS, ICT...

IMPROVING PCI INDEX IS THE GOAL AND MOTIVATION FOR NGHE AN TO CHANGE

At the workshop, leaders of departments, branches, business associations and enterprises discussed, focused on analyzing and evaluating the shortcomings and limitations in the business investment environment, PCI index; at the same time, proposed and recommended specific solutions to improve the business investment environment, enhance the competitiveness of Nghe An province in the coming time.

Concluding the workshop, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Duc Trung said that the workshop ended successfully and opened a new phase for Nghe An to continue to more strongly implement the content and commitments of the provincial government, all levels and sectors in improving the investment and business environment, enhancing competitiveness, and improving the PCI index in the coming period.

Comrades: Nguyen Duc Trung - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of Nghe An Provincial People's Committee; Pham Tan Cong - Chairman of Vietnam Federation of Commerce and Industry chaired the discussion. Photo: Thanh Duy

Based on the analysis and evaluation of the positive results as well as the shortcomings and limitations in the PCI index of Nghe An, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee emphasized that improving the provincial competitiveness and improving the PCI index is not simply about improving the ranking, but the larger goal is to substantially improve the investment and business environment and competitiveness; considering the improvement of the PCI index as the goal and motivation for Nghe An province to change, become more dynamic, better in management and administration capacity, and implement the spirit of serving businesses. The provincial government, all levels, departments and branches must all achieve this goal.

To do this, comrade Nguyen Duc Trung requested that from the Provincial People's Committee to departments, branches and localities, responsibilities must be clearly defined, especially the leaders: "Each cadre, civil servant and public employee should voluntarily take responsibility for the development of the province, to create a truly open and favorable investment and business environment for enterprises and investors, thereby improving the PCI index".

Comrade Nguyen Xuan Duc - Director of the Department of Planning and Investment presented a speech at the workshop. Photo: Thanh Duy

Mr. Tran Anh Son - representative of the Provincial Business Association spoke at the workshop. Photo: Thanh Duy

In the coming time, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee emphasized 6 important tasks. In particular, focusing on promoting propaganda to raise awareness, "only with clear thinking can everything be done", first of all, the team of leaders, civil servants and public employees must be clear, must understand the purpose and meaning of improving the investment and business environment, enhancing competitiveness, from there spreading to businesses and people.

On the other hand, focus on improving the component indicators that the province is weak in, decreasing in, or ranking low in; continue to improve and increase the component indicators. Strive for no index lower than the national average PCI median score in 2022 and the following years. Require departments and branches to urgently develop detailed plans to improve each indicator. The plan must have an implementation roadmap, specific goals, and be maintained regularly to create long-term changes.

Overview of the workshop to evaluate the PCI index of Nghe An province in 2021 and solutions to improve the PCI index in the coming period. Photo: Thanh Duy

Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Duc Trung also requested to continue promoting administrative reform, focusing on digital transformation, increasing administrative procedures carried out online; effectively implementing support for businesses, especially small and medium enterprises; having mechanisms and policies to stimulate the entrepreneurial spirit of Nghe An people. In handling administrative procedures of people and businesses, it is necessary to implement them with the motto "fast - correct - effective", in the spirit of "respect - listening - understanding".

At the same time, it is necessary to build friendly relationships between authorities at all levels, departments, and branches with businesses so that businesses can share difficulties and problems in order to promptly support and resolve them, in the spirit of enhancing dialogue. Regularly evaluate the results of the implementation of the plan to improve the PCI index quarterly, 6 months, and annually. At the same time, it is necessary to evaluate and announce the competitiveness capacity at the department, branch, and local level (DDCI) in an objective spirit, first of all in 2022.

Nghe An Province Investment, Trade and Tourism Promotion Center and VCCI Nghe An Branch signed a memorandum of cooperation on implementing the assessment of the Department, Sector and Local Competitiveness Index (DDCI). Photo: Pham Bang

On this occasion, the Center for Investment - Trade and Tourism Promotion of Nghe An province and VCCI Nghe An Branch signed a memorandum of cooperation on implementing the assessment of the competitiveness index at the department, industry and local level (DDCI).