PCI 2013: Big Changes

Lao Cai province, a Top 10 regular, slid to the 17^th position out of 63 provinces and cities surveyed. Mr Trinh Quoc Vuong, Deputy Director of the Office of Lao Cai Provincial People's Committee, who always takes care of PCI and investment environment of the province, said: "I am now going on business and yet to update PCI 2013 results. After we review PCI 2013 component indexes, the Office of Lao Cai Provincial People's Committee will work with departments and branches to advise the Provincial People's Committee to adjust solutions and measures to address issues that affect PCI component indexes.”

 

Thua Thien Hue province jumped to the second place from the 30^th position in 2012. In 2008, it stayed at the 10^th position, the second highest ranking to date. Mr Le Van Thu, Director of Thua Thien Hue Investment Promotion Centre, said: In recent years, seeing the constant decline in PCI rankings, the Provincial People's Committee has ordered departments, agencies and localities to study, build and issue programmes and activities to improve investment environment and raise PCI. The PCI 2013 results proved and recognised the efforts of the provincial government. “Chairman of Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Van Cao is currently accompanying State President Truong Tan Sang in the working visit to Japan. After he returns, we will report to him and ask for instructions, solutions and measures to maintain high PCI,” he added.

 

In 2013, Haiphong City entered the Top 10 group for the first time from the 50^th position in 2012 (It ranked 26^th in 2007, ranked 48^th in 2008, 36^th in 2009 and 50^th in 2012). Mr Pham Huu Thu, Director of the Office of the Haiphong People's Committee, said: The city is very happy to be ranked 15^th out of 63 provinces and cities. This also reflects the investment environment of the city. In 2013, Haiphong strived a lot to improve the business and investment environment and support local businesses. The result of FDI attraction in 2013 was a testament to the city’s efforts and PCI results will inspire the city to add more effort to public administration reform and investment facilitation.

 

Quang Ninh province made a significant progress with 16 steps up to the 4^th position in 2013 from the 20^th position in 2012. In the coming time, once the scheme on the construction of Van Don Special Economic Zone is ratified, the province will surely attract more FDI projects and PCI will be stably at a high level.

 

Dien Bien province also jumped 20 places to 43^rd position from the bottom. The rankings of this province are typically very changeable year after year. For example, it ranked 63^rd in 2008, 27^th in 2009, 47^th in 2010, 29^th in 2011 and 63^rd in 2012. Mr Tran Thanh Ha, Director of the Office of Dien Bien Provincial People's Committee, said, we have studied on the rapid changes year after year. Perhaps, this is a typical phenomenon of a mountainous province where most enterprises are small and lack of stability. Moreover, policy information in the province is not as fast as other localities because of terrain hardships; hence, assessments and feedbacks of enterprises are possibly changeable. Currently, Dien Bien has completed the scheme for investment business environment improvement and PCI enhancement. He said to have steadily high PCI, Dien Bien will continue to focus human resources training solutions, reduce time costs for businesses (primarily administrative reform) and perfect the law - the weakest point of the province now.

 

Hanoi ranked 33^rd in 2013, a frog leap of 18 places over 2012. The ranking decline in 2012 (plunging from 36^th place in 2011 to 51^st position in 2012) was actually a hot issue of the capital city. Politburo Member and Secretary of the City Party Committee Pham Quang Nghi also pressingly said other localities made changes, they changed but Hanoi stayed unchanged regardless of whatever we did. Hanoi had a lot of advantages in component indexes, particularly human resources training, and the 51^st position on the ranking table seemed to be unacceptable. From commitment to action, the capital city of Vietnam implemented a series of measures to improve the business and investment environment and support the business community. The city’s leaders hosted many direct dialogues with the business community and set 2013 the year of “administrative disciplines." Jumping 18 places is perhaps not a big issue for localities but it is a marvel for Hanoi.