Details of the indicators that put Nghe An into the Top 20 of the PCI rankings for the first time

First time in Top 20

With a total score of 64.08, Nghe An ranked 19th out of 63 provinces and cities and entered the Top 20 for the first time on the 2018 Provincial Competitiveness Index, continuing to be the leading province in the North Central region (Ha Tinh ranked 23rd, Thanh Hoa 25th, Thua Thien Hue 30th, Quang Tri 53rd, Quang Binh 54th).

PCI ranking of Nghe An province from 2011 to 2018. Graphics: Huu Quan

Looking at the 10 component indicators that make up the 2018 PCI index of Nghe An province, it shows that most of the indicators are rated better than in 2017. Specifically: Land access 7.08 points (6.16 points in 2017); Equal competition 4.71 points (3.62 points in 2017); Legal institutions and security and order 5.90 points (5.13 points in 2017); Business support services 7.49 points (7.45 points in 2017). The dynamism of the provincial government is also rated better, reaching a score of 5.60 (5.14 points in 2017).

The above results of Nghe An show the recognition of the business community for the province's efforts in recent times, and at the same time demonstrate the efforts of authorities at all levels and people in administrative reform and investment attraction.

Among the component indexes, only the labor training index is being assessed lower than the previous year (in 2017 it was 6.94, in 2018 it was 6.44 points).

Continued attention to labor resources

Discussing this issue, Mr. Nguyen Van Do - Director of the Department of Planning and Investment said: We have risen 2 levels in the context of localities making strong efforts to improve the investment environment, which is a very remarkable result. To achieve the above results, in addition to the consensus of businesses and people, in 2018, foreign affairs, investment promotion and attraction were focused on, with increased direction with many practical and effective innovations. The province has focused all resources on investment and development, prioritized internal development and attached importance to attracting external resources, improved the investment and business environment, created all favorable conditions for businesses to invest in production and business, and promoted socio-economic development.

Provincial Party Secretary Nguyen Dac Vinh discussed investment promotion in Nghe An in Japan in September 2018. Photo courtesy

In particular, the province has also made efforts in strengthening coordination to resolve difficulties and obstacles in line with the motto of the government accompanying businesses. Every month, the province organizes meetings with representatives of business associations, investors and sectors to direct the resolution of difficulties and obstacles for businesses and investors, especially land issues.

The 2018 PCI survey nationwide shows that the level of optimism among businesses about the business prospects in the coming time continues to be relatively high, 49% of private enterprises and 56% of FDI enterprises said they will expand their business scale in the next 2 years. However, the survey results also clearly show signs of an increase in the rate of businesses facing difficulties in operations; most of which are small and micro private enterprises. This is also the situation in Nghe An. And although Nghe An is a locality with an abundant labor force and large vocational schools in the area, the quality of labor is not high, requiring the Provincial People's Committee to direct vocational training centers to improve quality to meet the actual needs of businesses.

A corner of the Southeast Economic Zone. Photo courtesy

With the efforts and determination to accompany businesses, consider businesses as the focus of direction and management, socio-economic development, the success of businesses is also the success of the province, by 2020, Nghe An continues to improve its ranking position in the provincial competitiveness index CPI.

Viet Phuong - Nguyen Nam