DDCI - The "key" to enhancing the competitiveness of departments, sectors, and localities.

A proactive and business-oriented government is the goal of the current reform efforts. In Ninh Binh, alongside implementing solutions to manage and achieve socio -economic development goals for the entire 2020-2025 term, the deployment of the Provincial Departments, Boards, and Localities Competitiveness Index (DDCI) from 2021 to the present has clearly demonstrated the province's determination to create the most favorable environment for production, business, and investment development.

Transactions at the Ninh Binh Provincial Public Administrative Service Center. Photo: Anh Tuan

Overcoming difficulties to achieve success.

Economic experts consider 2023 to be the most challenging year for production and business activities in the last 30 years. The impact of the economic recession following the COVID-19 pandemic directly affected all investment activities as well as consumer demand. Despite this, the Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) of Ninh Binh province in 2023 still grew by 7.27% compared to 2022, ranking 23rd out of 63 provinces and cities, higher than the national average. Following this success, in the first six months of 2024, Ninh Binh continued to maintain a relatively high growth rate of 8.19% compared to the same period last year, ranking 12th out of 63 provinces and cities nationwide and 6th out of 11 provinces and cities in the Red River Delta region.

This is the result of many decisive management solutions from the provincial to the grassroots level aimed at promptly and strategically implementing tasks and solutions to support socio-economic development; especially the work of promoting administrative procedure reform, significantly improving the investment and business environment, removing difficulties, and creating the most favorable conditions for businesses to develop. Notably, according to the latest announcement, in 2023, the province's Public Administration Reform Index (PAR INDEX) ranked 11th out of 63 provinces and cities; the Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI) ranked 19th out of 63 provinces and cities. The Provincial Public Administration and Governance Effectiveness Index (PAPI) ranked 14th out of 63 provinces and cities; and the Satisfaction Index on Administrative Services (SIPAS) ranked 28th out of 63 provinces and cities.

This also clearly demonstrates the determination and decisiveness in the leadership and direction of the Provincial Party Committee, the Provincial People's Council, and the Provincial People's Committee, with a spirit of focusing on and closely engaging with the grassroots; especially the decisive and effective implementation of goals and tasks, and the effort to create a favorable environment to create momentum and accelerate towards achieving the socio-economic goals of the 2020-2025 term.

The message of openness to feedback.

With the perspective of a proactive government that supports businesses, Ninh Binh province has implemented many solutions to improve the investment and business environment over the years; applied information technology in resolving administrative procedures and in the direction and management of all levels and sectors; promoted digital transformation in the business sector; and focused on directing the synchronized implementation of measures to improve the component indicators of the Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI); the Public Administration Reform Index (PAR INDEX); the Provincial Public Administration and Governance Effectiveness Index (PAPI); and the Satisfaction Index of citizens and organizations with the services of state administrative agencies (SIPAS)...

In particular, since 2021, the province has implemented the Provincial Departments, Boards, and Agencies' Competitiveness Index (DDCI). This is not only an objective information channel, truthfully reflecting the assessment of businesses and citizens on the management of state administrative agencies; the attitude, responsibility, and conduct of officials and civil servants in performing their duties, but also a message demonstrating the province's willingness and concern for the business community, with the desire to build a sustainable Ninh Binh business community based on creating a transparent, open, and equitable investment and business environment.

The implementation of the DDCI Index assessment and survey in Ninh Binh is a groundbreaking decision in improving the business environment, demonstrating the determination and pioneering dynamism of the provincial leadership, and is a welcome sign in improving the province's investment and business environment. The assessment was carried out systematically according to a well-planned schedule issued by the Provincial People's Committee. The survey process was conducted independently by a consulting unit and closely supervised by the Provincial DDCI Index Implementation Monitoring Task Force. The DDCI assessment results not only show the ranking but, more importantly, clearly express the language of the DDCI Index through its component indicators, from the perspective and measurement of businesses' perceptions.

The public disclosure of evaluation results and the emphasis on the accountability of leaders in improving component indicators are significant in activating administrative reform initiatives to continuously and effectively improve the business environment, creating a new, friendly message and ensuring a safe, low-risk business environment for the business community. The political determination and pioneering dynamism of the provincial leadership are prerequisites for effective reforms, demonstrating the quality of governance in the new context.

As the unit assigned by the Provincial People's Committee to coordinate with the Department of Planning and Investment in implementing the DDCI index, Mr. Nguyen Xuan Thanh, Chairman of the Provincial Business Association and Chairman of Xuan Thanh Economic Group, commented: "After three years of implementation, DDCI has proven to be an important evaluation channel. It not only builds trust among businesses by demonstrating the proactive approach of government agencies at all levels, but also provides an opportunity to improve economic management and administration; especially administrative reform towards a more user-friendly and adaptable approach in the digital age. It can be said that change and reform in general, and in the business sector in particular, is a long, continuous process with no end point, but since the implementation of the DDCI assessment, the management of local governments has significantly improved, achieving encouraging results."

Creating momentum and extending the spirit of reform.

2024 marks the fourth year that Ninh Binh province has implemented the DDCI assessment, based on collecting, compiling, and researching the level of satisfaction and feedback from organizations and businesses in the province regarding aspects related to economic management, support, and assistance for production and business activities, carried out by provincial departments, agencies, and district People's Committees. Through statistical results, a comprehensive picture of the business environment in various sectors and localities, from the perspective of individuals and business organizations, will be clearly presented. This will then allow for research and proposals for solutions to improve the province's investment and business environment.

Comrade Dinh Thi Thuy Ngan, Provincial Party Committee member and Director of the Department of Planning and Investment, said: This year, we continue to apply diverse survey methods such as postal mail, online surveys, and direct interviews; however, we focus more on direct interviews to obtain more accurate assessments and perceptions from businesses. In addition, for the fourth year, provincial and district-level business associations and organizations have actively encouraged their members to participate in the survey. Along with widespread communication efforts, businesses, cooperatives, and business households have also been more proactive and responsible in providing answers and feedback. The number of participating businesses, cooperatives, and business households is expected to be around 3,100, including 800 businesses evaluating local-level organizations and 2,300 businesses evaluating departments and agencies. The survey, which is expected to distribute around 5,400 questionnaires, will help provide a more diverse, objective, and representative perspective."

The results of the DDCI survey continue to serve as a basis for research to propose practical solutions to improve the investment and business environment, enhance the provincial competitiveness index (PCI), and immediately address existing shortcomings and limitations in the management of departments, agencies, and district and city People's Committees. This will create a competitive movement to improve the quality of economic management among provincial departments and agencies and district People's Committees; and promote a proactive spirit of administrative reform, especially the reform of administrative procedures related to investors and businesses in the area.

Nguyen Thom