DDCI promotes improvement of business investment environment

The Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee awarded the cup to the leader of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the province, Moc Chau town ranked first in the DDCI Son La rankings in 2024. Photo: PV

Quality measurement and assessment tools

According to the 2024 Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI) report announced by the Vietnam Federation of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) on May 6, 2025, Son La province has 6/10 PCI component indexes in 2024 increasing in points, including: Market entry index; transparency; fair competition; business support policies; labor training and legal institutions. The results demonstrate the right direction in management, administrative reform, and improvement of the business investment environment of all levels, departments and branches. However, 4/10 indexes decreased in points, including: Land access; time costs; informal costs and dynamism. From that reality, maintaining and improving the quality of the DDCI tool is extremely necessary.

Ms. Le Thi Hong Anh, Director of the Center for Investment, Trade and Tourism Promotion of Son La province, said: Determining that improving the investment and business environment, enhancing the quality of economic management and supporting enterprises are key and continuous tasks, in recent years, Son La province has made efforts to improve the provincial PCI index. At the same time, building and maintaining the DDCI index to measure the satisfaction level of enterprises, cooperatives and business households with the management activities of departments, branches and People's Committees at district, town and city levels.

2024 is the fourth year that Son La has implemented the DDCI assessment, with support from the Australian Government through the GREAT Project. This index not only reflects the quality of governance, transparency, and effectiveness of business support, but also motivates the movement to promote administrative reform, enhance the responsibility of leaders, and build a favorable and competitive investment environment.

Overview of fertilizer factories of Song Lam Tay Bac Fertilizer Joint Stock Company and Son La Coffee Processing Joint Stock Company.

Mr. Le Duy Binh, economic expert, Director of Economica Vietnam, informed: DDCI is a tool to measure and evaluate the quality of economic management at the department, branch and local levels. The Son La DDCI 2024 index is implemented according to a scientific and methodical process, including 10 component indexes for the department and branch level and 11 indexes for the district level. Of which, the two new indexes are "Green growth and sustainable development" and "Gender responsiveness in management and operation".

Green growth and sustainable development are among the important contents included in the assessment, reflecting the province's priority level for green development policy. This index encourages businesses to apply environmental protection solutions, use renewable energy and move towards a sustainable growth model. Integrating environmental factors into state management helps Son La not only improve the business environment but also ensure long-term, environmentally friendly development.

Survey to directly collect opinions from women-owned business households in districts, cities and towns.

The “Gender Responsiveness in Management and Governance” Index assesses the level of government attention and support for women-owned businesses as well as policies to support female entrepreneurs and businesses led by disadvantaged groups. This helps to enhance the role of women in economic development while ensuring a fair and non-discriminatory business environment.

DDCI Son La 2024 surveyed and analyzed transparently, comprehensively, and highly representatively with 1,300 online and in-person surveys, including many units owned by women, ethnic minorities, and people with disabilities, ensuring high representation and transparency. The results showed positive changes in the management mindset, support capacity, and service to businesses of units and localities.

Improve competitiveness

The Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism topped the rankings thanks to its synchronous implementation of solutions to enhance information transparency, improve procedures and promote interaction with businesses in the field of culture and tourism. The Provincial Tax Department (Tax Department of Region IX) and the Department of Health ranked second and third, respectively. Among the local areas, Moc Chau town was the top locality, followed by Son La city and Yen Chau district.

Mr. Tran Xuan Viet, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, shared: In recent years, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism has coordinated with localities to support businesses and service business households in the area to provide information, promote, build images and brands for businesses, deploy documents guiding, directing, and informing the province's tourism activities to localities; Tourism Association, branches, and member businesses.

Ms. Ha Thi Khuyen, Phu Mau village, Chieng Yen commune, Van Ho district introduces the tourism model on mobile application to the Australian Embassy delegation in Vietnam.

Many businesses and service establishments have promptly and innovatively provided tourism information through digital platforms such as websites, portals, electronic information pages, electronic newspapers, and social networks, creating many choices for tourists. At the same time, promoting non-cash payment transactions, providing data and statistical reports on business activities on the network environment for state management agencies, contributing to building a digital platform for tourism management and business in the province that is increasingly superior and effective.

Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Son, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Provincial Business Association, commented: After 4 years of implementation, DDCI has affirmed its position as an important evaluation channel. Not only creating trust for businesses when seeing the receptiveness of authorities at all levels, DDCI is also an opportunity to improve economic management and operation; especially administrative reform in a friendly and adaptive direction in the digital era. I hope that departments and branches will continue to research, review and advise the province to develop and issue specific policies to realize Resolution No. 68-NQ/TW of the Politburo on private economic development; continue to promote administrative procedure reform; reduce at least 30% of unnecessary business conditions, strongly shift from "pre-inspection" to "post-inspection" in the spirit of Directive No. 10/CT-TTg dated March 23, 2025 of the Prime Minister on promoting small and medium enterprises. Departments and branches continue to maintain regular dialogue with the business community.

Beekeeping model for honey of Ms. Lo Thi Toan, Phuong Quynh village, Yen Son commune, Yen Chau district.

DDCI is not just a score or ranking, but it is the numbers that clearly reflect the performance of agencies, units, and localities; the advantages and disadvantages in performing public duties. At the same time, it shows the responsibility and awareness of agencies, units, and localities in improving the investment and business environment, and enhancing the competitiveness of the province.

With new points and a methodical implementation method, DDCI Son La in 2024 is not only an assessment tool but also an important lever to improve competitiveness, attract investment and create momentum for sustainable economic development. The participation of the business community in the survey process helps the provincial government have a more comprehensive view of the difficulties and obstacles of businesses, thereby providing more appropriate adjustment solutions.

In the coming time, Son La province will continue to promote policies to support women-owned businesses, ensure equal development opportunities and encourage the participation of disadvantaged groups in the economy. Focus on integrating green growth criteria into development strategies. Support businesses to apply clean technology, use renewable energy and move towards sustainable production models, contributing to balancing economic growth and environmental protection, creating a solid foundation for long-term development.

Source: https://baosonla.vn/kinh-te/ddci-thuc-day-cai-thien-moi-truong-dau-tu-kinh-doanh-ghxbfqaNR.html