PCI index and bright spots

Quang Ninh achieved the above results based on the foundation of breakthrough reforms when it was the first province in the country to establish and operate the Investment Promotion and Support Board and the Public Administration Center, focusing on optimizing the administrative procedure settlement process, improving the coordination efficiency between state agencies, thereby shortening the time, minimizing costs for investors and businesses as well as making the administrative procedure settlement process transparent at the local level.

Quang Ninh is also a province that focuses on improving the quality of implementation of the government apparatus, the quality of support for investors and businesses, and has new innovations in establishing a standing team to take care of investors, along with implementing the assessment of the performance of departments, branches, districts and towns, as well as proactively organizing dialogues to collect and handle problems of investors and businesses.

The common point is that the provinces and cities in the top 10 of the PCI 2021 index are all localities with many efforts and initiatives in governance, management, and improving the favorable investment and business environment for enterprises.

Specifically, Hai Phong has focused on promptly resolving difficulties arising in production and business activities through monthly direct dialogues between investors and enterprises with city leaders and functional departments and branches. Hai Phong has effectively implemented the action program and publicly committed to reducing 50% of the procedural time compared to regulations. Hai Phong is also a locality that has made clear progress in applying flexible policies, helping investors and enterprises overcome difficulties and maintain production and business in the context of being negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dong Thap is the origin province of the entrepreneurial coffee model nationwide, carrying out many activities to support startups and strengthen connections between businesses and enterprises, promoting the formation of local value chains. Dong Thap implements the "4 on-site" method such as receiving, appraising, approving, and returning results when handling public administrative procedures at all levels.

It must be affirmed that the efforts of local authorities in implementing their commitment to creating an open and transparent business environment, especially through direct dialogues with state management agencies and local authorities at all levels, have helped businesses and investors doing business honestly in Vietnam increasingly trust in the superior and consistent policies of our Party and State in the context of Vietnam's increasingly deep integration.

However, in recent times, many businesses have complained that not all localities have done a good job of supporting and removing difficulties for investors and businesses. The limitations, inadequacies, and slow additions and corrections in administrative procedures have created loopholes for officials to take advantage of. The harassment and indifference of a number of officials, civil servants, and officials performing public duties are barriers, causing difficulties and losing business opportunities for investors and businesses. For example, in the field of land management, most provinces and cities have put one-level land registration offices into operation, although administrative procedures have been improved, the situation of extortion, hassle, and harassment by officials performing public duties has not been completely prevented. Although it is assessed that there have been positive changes, the results of administrative procedure reform in many provinces and cities have not yet met the requirements.

The biggest obstacle in administrative procedure reform today is the overlap, confusion, and inconsistency of some related legal documents. The processes and procedures are not really clear, lack of synchronization, each locality does it differently, causing frustration for investors and businesses. Notably, in the implementation of "one-stop shop, one-stop shop", administrative procedure files related to the fields of investment, construction, and land are mostly returned later than the prescribed time, making investors and businesses discouraged because they have to go back and forth many times and spend a lot of time to resolve.

Many businesses believe that only when civil servants are truly dedicated, local authorities are truly dedicated, accompany businesses, consider the success (or failure) of businesses as their joy (or sadness), then businesses can escape troubles and feel secure in doing business long-term.

According to Tin Tuc Newspaper