To learn about new opportunities for investment in Dak Nong province and provide helpful insight about such opportunities for enterprises, the Vietnam Business Forum has an interview with Mr Tran Xuan Hai, Director of Planning and Investment Department of Dak Nong province. The Cuong reports.
Could you talk about new changes in the investment environment and incentives for investors in Dak Nong province in the coming time?
In the upcoming time, the province will continue reviewing, amending and supplementing investment incentive policies in order to provide the best conditions for investors like investment preference policies for industry, tourism, hi-tech agriculture or infrastructure support for industrial zones. In spite of numerous difficulties, the province has created the best conditions for investors, particularly in the provision of services such as electricity, water, telecommunications and banking.
As regards administrative reform, the province continues applying the ISO9001:2008 quality management standards; deploying single-window mechanism; applying IT to specialised activities like electronic office systems; providing all investment-related information on the provincial informational portal; and upgrading existing websites and opening new ones to provide more public services online.
Stepping up the formation of infrastructure systems is a favourable factor to attract investment in the coming time. So how does Dak Nong plan to develop infrastructure?
The infrastructure system in the province is seriously insufficient and outdated. This also distresses investors when they come to Dak Nong. So, in the upcoming time, the province will focus on infrastructure development: Building National Road 14 to link Binh Phuoc and Binh Duong provinces and Ho Chi Minh, upgrading National Road 28, establishing a railway exclusively for bauxite transportation, and improving Gia Nghia power grid. The province will pull funds for these projects from ODA sources, companies, the government and people.
Dak Nong has applied a single-window policy, reformed administrative procedures and boosted information transparency. What have been the notable results?
Determined to improve the business environment and enhance the provincial competitiveness index (PCI), Dak Nong has issued regulations on one-door mechanisms applied from grassroots to provincial levels. It has simplified administrative procedures, opened a provincial electronic information portal to enhance information transparency, and applied IT to administrative activities.
The accountability of civil servants is enhanced when they serve investors. The time necessary for completing administrative procedures is shortened, and bureaucracy, red tape and bribery are eradicated. Thus, the province wins the trust of enterprises.
Publicizing administrative procedures and investment support policies on the provincial electronic information portal has created favourable conditions for enterprises to complete investment procedures and access resources, preferential policies, labour market, tax preferences and other information. They also grasp the overall picture of Dak Nong, with its potential, advantages, labour market and capital, to make the best investment decision for their capacity.
The province applies the ISO9001:2008 quality management system and IT to workflows to shorten the time to serve investors and have better guidance, supervision and settlement of their works. Then, both state agencies and enterprises can save costs for administrative works.
How have enterprises assessed the efforts of Dak Nong province regarding the above reforms?
In recent years, the provincial competitiveness index (PCI) of Dak Nong province is always at the bottom of the list of 63 provinces and cities in 2010. But, we believe that the position will be better in 2011 and subsequent years, thanks to determinations of the political system. This will be the most accurate and objective assessment of enterprises.
What are the investment projects and fields Dak Nong will give priority in the future?
The province continues attracting investment into such areas as industry, high-tech agriculture, transport infrastructure, tourism, entertainment services and business centres. However, Dak Nong will not attract investment at any cost, but carefully select truly capable, enthusiastic and willing investors to do long-term business in the province. It will limit projects using too much land, or affecting forest and water sources.
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