Impressive Achievements of Administrative Reform

Hai Phong City has achieved many positive results in administrative reform and administration modernization in recent years. This has enhanced public and business satisfaction and improved the city's business and investment environment.

Top of the country

In 2021, Hai Phong ranked first in the Public Administration Reform Index (Par Index) for the first time and second in the Satisfaction Index of Public Administrative Services (SIPAS). This result makes the government and people of Hai Phong City very proud.

Ms Nguyen Thi Thu, Director of Hai Phong Department of Home Affairs, said this outcome could not be achieved in a short time but resulted from a long process and effort of the city. Since it adopted the Par Index, Hai Phong City has always ranked top in the country.

The index ranked 6th out of 63 provinces and cities 2012 - 2013, rose to second in 2014 - 2016, slid to 5th 2017 - 2018 and climbed to 4th in 2019. In 2021, the Par Index  reached 91.8%, 5.43% higher than the national median, and topped the rankings.

Since the Ministry of Home Affairs launched the SIPAS Index, Hai Phong City has always stood among the best performers. Specifically, it ranked 8th out of 63 provinces and cities in 2017, 9th in 2018 and 2nd in 2019 - 2021.

Director Thu added that, in order to keep those good performances, as an standing advisor on Par Index to the municipal government, the Department of Home Affairs consults the City People's Committee to effectively implement Resolution. 76/NQ-CP of the Government on National PAR Master Program in 2021-2030.

Hai Phong sees digital transformation as a disruptive, central and impactful solution to build a transparent, effective and efficient administration and rapidly improve the investment and business environment, helping increase the quality of economic governance. The city accelerates construction and effective implementation of fundamental databases for e-government and digital government development.

“In 2022, the city has striven to stand among 10 best performers of the Digital Transformation Index (DTI) and among Top 5 by 2025,” she added.

Further reforming administrative procedures

Executing the Government's Resolution 76/NQ-CP on National PAR Master Program for 2021-2030, the Department of Home Affairs actively advised the Municipal People's Committee to issue Plan 216/KH-UBND dated 23 September 2021 on implementation of the National PAR Master Program of Hai Phong City (in 2021-2025). Particularly, administrative procedure reform is one of three central areas of public administration reform, aimed to further improve the quality and effect of administrative procedure reform to build a public and transparent investment and business environment.

Hai Phong City aims to drastically, consistently and effectively reform administrative procedures for people and businesses; conduct reviews to reduce and streamline business conditions and documents and optimize settlement process of administrative procedures, driven by strong information technology application; and apply Industry 4.0 achievements to administrative procedure reforms. The city will remove restrictive barriers to freedom of business, improve and raise the quality of business investment environment, ensure fair, equal and transparent competition; reform and boost the effect of single-window shop mechanisms in solving administrative procedures and settle administrative procedures in the electronic environment, which will enable people and businesses to perform services anytime, anywhere on different media.

Hai Phong always defines that the ultimate goal of public administration reform is to bring highest satisfaction to people and businesses and to create a favorable business and investment environment for socioeconomic development. Despite achieving high results, the city still frankly admits that there is still a gap between the performance of the Par Index and the expectations of people and businesses. Therefore, in the coming time, the city's administrative reform still needs significant attention and drastic direction from the City Party Committee, the City People's Council and City People's Committee; the continued resolution of all public employees; and the support and companionship of people and businesses.

Huong Giang (Vietnam Business Forum)