The remaining "problem" is who will carry it out?

(Baonghean)The "Spring 2014 Investor Meeting," jointly organized by the Provincial People's Committee, the Party Committee of the Central Business Bloc, and the Vietnam Investment and Development Bank (BIDV), has yielded many important initial results and opened up many promising prospects.

Along with the positive statements and promises made by investors to Nghe An, the meeting witnessed the signing of 9 investment cooperation agreements between the Provincial People's Committee and investors; 3 investment projects were granted certificates with a total capital of over 18 trillion VND. In addition, many memoranda of understanding between investors and partners were also signed… Investors expressed joy and confidence upon hearing the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee commit that “Nghe An will truly stand alongside and support businesses; creating the most favorable conditions for investors to produce and conduct business effectively and sustainably in the province.”

Provincial leaders sign project agreements with investors. at the Spring 2014 Investors Meeting (Year of the Horse).

This means that Nghe An will continue to roll out the "red carpet" to welcome investors in the coming time. Through discussions, investors expressed confidence and reassurance in the province's policies and guidelines, but their concern lies with the officials and staff responsible for implementation. These are the people who represent the provincial leadership and competent authorities, directly working with businesses from the initial paperwork to project implementation and even the subsequent production and business processes. Many investors consider the attitude and conduct of officials and staff in public agencies towards them to be almost as important as the province's policies and guidelines.

This brings to mind how investors have evaluated Nghe An province based on the Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI) ranking organized by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry in recent years. According to this ranking, criteria such as the dynamism and pioneering spirit of the provincial leadership, and the time and cost involved in implementing government regulations, have consistently improved in recent years. Meanwhile, the criterion of "informal costs," jokingly referred to as "petty corruption" among officials and employees, has not improved. In fact, in the most recent ranking (2012), this criterion even dropped. This is regrettable, and, of course, there are underlying reasons for it.

Frankly speaking, in Nghe An province, many officials and civil servants lack professional skills and competence but often abuse their power, creating difficulties and causing harassment. When officials and employees lack impartiality and empathy in performing their duties, not only are the legitimate interests of businesses harmed, but the province's investment attraction policies are also seriously violated. The image of the province as open and friendly to investors is distorted by these officials and employees. This prevents the province's efforts in attracting investment from yielding the desired results.

Many people surely remember the question posed by National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung at a meeting with investors at the beginning of the Year of the Horse: "When will Nghe An be able to catch up with Binh Duong?" Five years, ten years, or longer? Perhaps no one can answer that thought-provoking question, but from their perspective, investors might say, "When civil servants in Nghe An work responsibly, fairly, transparently, and enthusiastically with businesses like their counterparts in Binh Duong, then Nghe An will be able to catch up with... Binh Duong."

If so, it could be said that the provincial leaders and investors are ready. The remaining issue lies with a segment of the officials and staff responsible for implementation?

Viet Long