Need to continue improving transparency index

With a weight of 20%, the transparency index is one of the most important indicators, determining the increase or decrease in the ranking of the Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI). This index measures the following factors: Do businesses have easy access to the types of information and documents necessary for production and business activities? Is access to information and documents fair? Are legal policies and law enforcement predictable or unstable? And how effective is the dissemination of information through electronic portals and websites in localities? According to statistics from the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), the province's transparency index in 2022 reached 55.67 points, an improvement in score and ranking compared to 2021 (up 0.24 points, up 3 places, ranked 49/63 provinces and cities). However, the level of improvement is not clear, there are still 10/17 indicators that have not improved in terms of scores.

The province's Electronic Information Portal is increasingly improving the quality of information provided to help people and businesses access it conveniently.

Specifically, 7 indicators have been improved, including: The number of days waiting to receive information and request documents continues to decrease; the rate of enterprises recognizing the role of local business associations in formulating and reviewing provincial policies and regulations increases; the rate of enterprises that believe that they need "relationships" to obtain provincial documents decreases; the rate of enterprises that have to negotiate with tax officials on taxes payable helps enterprises reduce taxes payable; the quality of the province's website continues to improve; access to planning documents and access to legal documents is increasingly convenient. Notably, the province's median score for the number of days waiting to receive information and request documents increased by 50 places, ranking 7/63 provinces and cities due to reaching 2.5 days, down 3 days compared to 2021; The rate of businesses that said they needed "relationships" to obtain provincial documents decreased by 33.12% compared to 2021, up 20 places, ranking 18/63 provinces and cities.

In 10/17 indicators that have not been improved, there are indicators that, although still increasing in rank on the national rankings, have dropped in rank compared to the results the province achieved in 2021. Notably, in the group of 10 indicators that have not been improved, there are 3 indicators at the "top" bottom of the rankings (51/63 provinces and cities): 15.33% of enterprises said that there was transparency in bidding, down 67.17% compared to 2021 (down 24 ranks, ranked 54/63 provinces and cities). 18.11% of enterprises anticipated the province's implementation of central legal regulations, down 16.75% compared to 2021 (down 29 ranks, ranked 54/63 provinces and cities). 18.90% of businesses believe that provincial leaders can anticipate changes in legal regulations, down 14.13% compared to 2021 (down 16 places, ranked 54/63 provinces and cities).

Through the results of the PCI survey in 2022, the province has assessed the advantages and limitations in implementing the task of improving, improving scores, and increasing the transparency index. Accordingly, many types of planning information and documents, legal documents and other documents of the province have been more public and transparent than before, making it easier for businesses to access (the rate of businesses saying that they need "relationships" to obtain documents of the province, decreased by 33.12% compared to 2021, increased by 20 places, ranked 18/63 provinces and cities). The information and documents requested by businesses have been responded to promptly by all levels and sectors, but the rate of businesses receiving feedback from agencies in the province is still low. The province's ability to predict changes in legal regulations and the ability of businesses to predict the province's implementation of central legal regulations have decreased; these indicators are all at the bottom of the rankings. In addition, the percentage of enterprises agreeing that information on the province's website about provincial legal documents, executive documents, instructions of provincial leaders, and administrative procedure regulations is useful has decreased compared to 2021. At the same time, the percentage of enterprises regularly accessing the website of the Provincial People's Committee has decreased compared to 2021.

Therefore, the province requires that in the coming time, sectors and localities must focus on clearly identifying the benefits that transparency brings to both the government and businesses; must pay attention to and closely grasp the needs and expectations of businesses to better meet the ability to access information. Specifically, more transparent information can help reduce risks and uncertainties in business operations. From there, businesses can minimize the need to learn and adapt to new legal regulations, save costs and have incentives to build long-term business plans. Among the aspects of local public administration, improving transparency can significantly promote increased private investment. The disclosure and transparency of local planning documents has a significant impact on attracting private investment to the locality.

In addition, more efforts should be made towards the transparency of all types of information that must be provided according to the law to people and businesses, especially documents related to maps, land use plans, public investment plans, local investment incentive policies, and plans to build new infrastructure. In particular, not only stopping at simply disclosing information, authorities at all levels and functional sectors need to arrange, organize, and present a massive information system (including: documents related to laws, ordinances, decrees, decisions of the Central Government, guiding documents of ministries, sectors and administrative procedure forms) in a friendly, scientific and convenient way for investors and businesses to easily search and read the content./.

Article and photos: Thanh Thuy

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