Creating momentum from administrative reform

2017 is the first year after the 18th Provincial Party Congress (term 2015 - 2020), Nghe An province has completed and exceeded 27/27 socio-economic targets, in which the economic growth rate reached 8.25% compared to the plan of 8 - 9%, the highest and higher than the growth rate of the last 3 years (in 2014 increased by 7.13%, in 2015 increased by 6.81%, in 2016 increased by 7.22%) and higher than the average growth rate of the whole country (reaching 6.81%).

Budget revenue reached 12,465 billion VND, equal to 107.5% of the estimate and increased by 13.3% compared to 2016. That achievement is thanks to the crystallization of intelligence, efforts, solidarity and consensus of cadres, party members, army and people in the province, one of which is the positive change in administrative reform.

Signing of investment cooperation agreement between Nghe An province and Hemaraj Group (Thailand). Photo: Tien Hung

Identifying administrative reform as the "key" to opening up many prospects and successes for economic development in the integration trend, the Provincial People's Committee has strengthened the direction of relevant departments, branches and sectors to focus on this field, in order to continuously improve the investment environment, creating the most favorable conditions for businesses and people.

In 2017, the province resolutely implemented the one-stop mechanism to resolve investment procedures; established the Investment Promotion and Support Center under the Provincial People's Committee to promote promotion activities, support investors in carrying out administrative procedures, create favorable conditions for investors and businesses when investing in Nghe An...

During the year, the Provincial People's Committee issued 9 decisions to announce administrative procedures in the province in the following fields: Land, finance, construction, agriculture and rural development, education - training, tourism, culture - sports, ethnicity, justice as a basis for implementation. The one-stop mechanism and the interconnected one-stop mechanism in sectors and localities continued to be maintained and improved in quality, creating favorable conditions for transactions of people, organizations and businesses.

Up to now, the one-stop mechanism has been implemented in 21/21 specialized agencies under the Provincial People's Committee and equivalent, in 21/21 districts, cities, towns and 480/480 communes, wards and towns. The modern inter-connected one-stop model at the district level has been deployed in 14/21 districts, cities and towns (9 units have been put into operation, 6 units are being deployed). In the investment sector, 11/11 administrative procedures implemented under the inter-connected mechanism have been fully publicized, ensuring compliance with regulations at the Provincial Inter-connected One-Stop Department...

Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Xuan Duong discussed with people of Muong Long commune, Ky Son about the passion fruit growing model. Photo: Thanh Duy

Thanks to the efforts in administrative reform in 2017, the activities of promoting and attracting investment, improving the investment environment of Nghe An have had many innovations, practicality, efficiency, focus and key points. Along with organizing the Spring Meeting with Investors, the province has organized investment promotion at home and abroad; successfully organized major events on investment promotion such as: Spring Meeting with Investors 2017, organizing investment promotion in Australia; coordinating with VSIP Nghe An to promote investment in Malaysia, Hong Kong, Korea and Ho Chi Minh City...

Through investment promotions, 176 new investment licenses have been granted to Nghe An, with a registered capital of nearly 15 trillion VND. Many large-scale investment projects have been, are being and will be implemented, which are driving forces to create large revenues for the provincial budget and create jobs for thousands of local workers such as: Hoa Sen Factory, Song Lam Cement Factory; VSIP Nghe An Industrial, Urban and Service Park, Infrastructure Investment Project of 2 Industrial Parks of Hemaraj Group (Thailand), projects of Vingroup and Masan Groups; Cau Cau Mixed Service Tourism and Resort Area (Thanh Chuong)...

However, in addition to the remarkable results in administrative reform, creating changes in many areas, we also need to frankly acknowledge the limitations in this work, that is, the administrative reform index of Nghe An in 2017 decreased compared to 2015, which is something to worry about and find solutions to overcome. The Provincial People's Committee has directed the Department of Home Affairs and related departments, branches and levels to review, find the causes and develop a plan to overcome and improve the province's administrative reform ranking index.

In the immediate future, strive to achieve a growth rate above the target assigned by the Provincial People's Council of 9% (the whole country strives to achieve 6.5 - 6.7%); strive to achieve a budget revenue of 12,691 billion VND. To do so, leaders and heads of agencies, units and localities in the whole province must resolutely direct the implementation of tasks, first of all the task of administrative reform, contributing to creating substantial changes in administrative reform work.

First of all, all levels and sectors need to focus on creating conditions for infrastructure development, creating production and business premises for enterprises and investors. Developing human resources for enterprises and cooperatives. Strengthening administrative discipline and order at all levels according to Directive No. 26/CT-TTg dated September 5, 2016 of the Prime Minister; creating strong changes in the implementation of instructions from superior administrative agencies and heads of agencies and units. Focusing on directing according to programs and plans so that all levels and sectors can proactively handle work, avoiding overlap and passivity.

Strengthen the work of directing, urging, checking and inspecting the performance of tasks; strictly handle violations of the law in public service activities. Strengthen information publicity and transparency, promote the responsibility of leaders, put into order the inspection of progress and results of implementation of the proposed work program according to the management mechanism. Assign specific and comprehensive responsibility to each individual leader. Grasp information and recommendations from the grassroots to have plans, measures to handle and resolve promptly.

Specifically, requesting departments, branches and localities to continue implementing the Government's Resolutions, Decisions and Directives of the Prime Minister on promoting administrative procedure reform in a number of fields, focusing on fields closely related to businesses and people. In 2017, a number of departments and branches actively implemented many solutions to promote administrative procedure reform. For example, the Department of Construction reviewed administrative procedures, developed coordination regulations on construction permit procedures and related procedures.

The Customs Department continues to synchronously implement solutions to shorten the time for customs clearance of goods in accordance with the spirit of Resolution No. 19/NQ-CP of the Government, shortening the time and costs for cross-border transactions for import and export goods; in the field of business registration and start-up, business registration procedures carried out in connection between the business registration agency and the tax agency also need to be shortened to the maximum... I want the above agencies and units to continue to promote the implementation of this work from the beginning of 2018.

At the same time, pay attention to implementing the one-stop shop and one-stop shop mechanism in all sectors and levels. Agencies and units need to rectify the handling of administrative procedures for people and businesses, minimizing the need for people to travel multiple times; at the same time, report to the Provincial People's Committee to strictly handle cases of officials, civil servants and public employees who have acts of abuse of power, harassment, negativity, and self-imposed additional regulations not included in legal documents.

Administrative reform must also be carried out in the work of building and improving the quality of the staff, civil servants and public employees such as: training, fostering knowledge, regular professional capacity, quality to build a team with good political will and moral qualities, meeting the requirements of foreign language and information technology proficiency according to job positions, so that by 2020, over 95% of staff, civil servants and public employees will complete their tasks well according to actual assessment.

Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Xuan Duong visited the Hoang Nguyen Tan Ky Cotto roofing tile and brick factory. Photo: PV

The Department of Home Affairs and relevant departments and branches shall strengthen inspection of compliance with discipline and administrative order according to Directive No. 26/CT-TTg dated September 5, 2016 of the Prime Minister, Directive No. 17-CT/TU dated December 3, 2013 of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Directive No. 10/2013/CT-UBND dated April 6, 2013 of the Provincial People's Committee at units and localities to create positive changes and substantial effectiveness.

In the field of public finance reform, it is necessary to implement Government Decrees stipulating autonomy and self-responsibility for the use of staff and administrative expenses for State agencies; stipulating autonomy and self-responsibility for performing tasks, organizing apparatus, staff and finance for public service units.

Agencies, units and localities assigned autonomy must comply with legal provisions on management and use of the State budget, be proactive in using assigned staff and funds, carry out anti-corruption work, practice thrift and combat waste, and effectively implement democratic regulations.

Regarding administrative modernization, the Provincial People's Committee continues to direct the implementation of information technology (IT) application and e-government construction, implementing the IT application plan in state agencies of Nghe An province in the period of 2016-2020 and 2017, the Network Information Security Plan of Nghe An province in the period of 2016-2020, and the Regulations on ensuring network information security in the operations of state agencies in the province. In particular, the Department of Information and Communications proactively advises on approving the list of estimates and the contractor selection plan: "Consulting on surveying and building the e-government architecture of Nghe An province" (Decision No. 1473/QD-UBND dated April 14, 2017) and related contents...

To specify the administrative reform task, in 2018, the Provincial People's Committee decided to select and request 7 agencies and units to take the lead in implementing administrative reform, including the Departments of Natural Resources and Environment, Planning and Investment, Transport, Finance, Construction, and the Office of the Provincial People's Committee and Vinh City.

These are the "key points" with important roles and positions in implementing administrative reform; the positive movements of these agencies and units will contribute to determining the quality and effectiveness of the province's administrative reform, including effectively serving the work of attracting investment. Thereby, building a team of cadres and civil servants with capacity and qualifications to meet work requirements, changing the habits, ways of working, and thinking of cadres and civil servants, towards implementing a modern administration, meeting the requirements of solving work of people and businesses...

I believe that, with open policies and mechanisms, positive and drastic movements of departments, branches, and each cadre and civil servant, in 2018, Nghe An's administrative reform work will achieve better results, enhancing people's and businesses' trust in the government, contributing to the completion of the year's socio-economic development goals, successfully implementing the Resolution of the Party Congresses at all levels for the 2015-2020 term and Resolution No. 26-NQ/TW of the Politburo on the direction and tasks for the development of Nghe An province until 2020.