Vigorously apply the DDCI competitiveness assessment index.

(Baonghean.vn) – The goal of the Departmental, District, and Town Competitiveness Index (DDCI) assessment is to create competition in the quality of economic management, the ability to improve the business environment, and support businesses at the departmental, district, and town levels.

The project to improve and enhance the Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI), issued under Decision No. 2595/QD-UBND of the Provincial People's Committee, has set the goal of improving the PCI score and ranking compared to the whole country and the North Central Region.

After five years of effectively implementing the proposed solutions, the Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI) has continuously improved from 2012 to the present. 2016 was a successful year when Nghe An's PCI reached its highest score ever at 59.45 points, ranking 25th out of 63 provinces nationwide, an increase of 5.09 points and 21 places compared to 2012; ranking 2nd out of 6 provinces in the North Central Region.

Overview of the seminar. Photo: Thu Huyen

In comparison with other provinces in the North Central region, Nghe An's PCI ranking improved significantly during the 2012-2016 period. In 2016, Nghe An's PCI ranking increased by 4 positions compared to 2012, from 6th out of 6 provinces in the North Central region (2012) to 2nd out of 6 (2016), behind Thua Thien Hue.

Indicators that rank highly in the region include: Workforce training, Fair competition, Market entry, and Transparency.

Indicators that ranked low in the region include: Access to land, Informal costs, Legal institutions, Time costs, and Business support.

Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Le Ngoc Hoa delivers a speech. Photo: Thu Huyen

Speaking at the conference, Comrade Le Ngoc Hoa stated: 2016 was a successful year for the province's investment and business environment. This is a very encouraging result, acknowledging the province's efforts over many years and reflecting the effective and synchronized implementation of numerous policies to improve the business environment and each component index of the PCI (Provincial Competitiveness Index) by the entire government system in recent times.

The province's investment attraction results are concrete evidence supporting the above observations: in 2016, the entire province granted licenses to 141 new projects with a total investment capital of VND 35,441 billion; as of May 2017, 68 new projects had been granted licenses with a total registered investment capital of VND 9,064.5 billion; and 5 projects had their registered investment capital increased by VND 544.89 billion. Many large projects using high technology have become operational and are performing effectively, creating many jobs and contributing significantly to the state budget.

However, the improvement has been inconsistent, with many indicators remaining low, such as informal costs (Nghe An ranks 60th out of 63 provinces and cities) and access to land (ranks 52nd out of 63) – these are major barriers affecting the province's investment environment.

Comparison table of PCI index for provinces in the Central Coastal region in 2014 and 2015. Photo: PV

"One of the initiatives to improve the PCI index is the development and application of the Departmental, District, and Town-level Competitiveness Index (DDCI)."

The goal of the DDCI (Provincial Competitiveness Index) is to create competition in the quality of economic management, the ability to improve the business environment, and support businesses at the departmental, district, and town levels. Building and applying the DDCI will bring the province's agencies and units into the general movement in reform, shortening administrative procedures, and minimizing inconvenience; at the same time, it will create conditions for businesses and investors to contribute their voices to the local economic management activities through their survey opinions,” – Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Le Ngoc Hoa emphasized.

Mr. Dau Anh Tuan – Head of the Legal Department and Director of the PCI project – shared solutions for improving the business environment and enhancing the PCI index. Photo: Thu Huyen.

Discussing solutions to improve the PCI index, Mr. Dau Anh Tuan – Head of the Legal Department of VCCI and Director of the PCI project – suggested that one of the solutions is to make businesses feel satisfied and to build a service-oriented administration. Resolving difficulties for businesses and ensuring their satisfaction with the business environment is the most effective way to promote investment.

"Nghe An has a disadvantageous starting point compared to other provinces and cities, therefore, without strong efforts, it risks falling behind. Some of the province's indicators have made progress, but compared to other provinces, Nghe An is still lagging behind. To improve the PCI index, in addition to the efforts of the provincial leadership, a strong transformation is needed at the departmental, district, and town levels," the PCI Director expressed his concern.

The Nghe An provincial delegation visits a clean tea production line using Japanese technology in Hung Son commune, Anh Son district. Photo: Thu Huyen.

Also at the workshop, delegates heard about the experience of implementing the 2016 Department-level Competitiveness Index of Bac Ninh province, presented by Mr. Nguyen Phuong Bac - Director of the Bac Ninh Provincial Economic Research Institute; a sharing by Mr. Tran Huu Huynh - Chairman of the Vietnam International Arbitration Center on strengthening business consultation and empowering associations to improve the provincial business environment through the implementation of Resolution 19/NQ-CP and Resolution 35/NQ-CP; and presentations from exemplary departments, agencies, and business associations.

Thu Huyen