Hue City ranked 6th in the PCI rankings in 2024 (Photo: VCCI)

PCI - "mirror" reflecting management quality

From 17th place in 2020, in recent years, Hue has made a breakthrough to successively rank 8th (2021), 6th (2022), 8th (2023) and return to 6th place in the PCI rankings in 2024. This is not an accidental result, but the result of a strategic transformation process, with many pillars of synchronous reform: From streamlining administrative procedures, strong digital transformation, to promoting transparency, reducing informal costs for businesses. In particular, the development of e-government applications - smart cities through the Hue-S platform has contributed to shortening the gap between the government and people - businesses, creating a friendly, effective and timely administrative space.

In particular, the city has promoted the application of e-government - smart city and typically the Hue-S platform for interaction between people and the government, contributing to shortening the gap between the government and people - businesses, forming a friendly, effective and timely administrative space on a digital platform.

Chart of 10 PCI component indexes of Hue city in the period 2020-2024 (source pcivietnam.vn)

Staff – the “flywheel” for reform

An important highlight in the success of improving the business and investment environment of Hue City is the change in mindset and capacity of the staff and civil servants. Shifting from the mindset of “management – ​​asking for and giving”, many departments, branches, sectors and localities in the province have formed a team of “administrative service”, close to the people, understanding the market, grasping the work, being creative and ready to take responsibility.

In particular, in many departments, branches and district-level authorities, there have appeared officials who proactively remove difficulties for investors, listen to feedback from businesses and consider people's satisfaction as a measure of public service capacity. A group of young officials, with technological thinking, responsibility and integrity are gradually shaping a new image for the city's administration. Along with the strong direction of the city's leaders in managing the fields of socio-economic development, business development and investment environment, they have created fundamental changes for the socio-economic development of Hue City in recent times.

However, there are still many limitations that need to be frankly acknowledged. Some cadres are still passive, lack inter-sectoral coordination skills and have not really put themselves in the position of "accompanying enterprises". The situation of avoiding responsibility, being afraid of innovation or "waiting for instructions" is still a barrier in some areas such as land, construction, strategic investment environment. This is also shown in the chart analyzing Hue's component indicators on land access, informal costs, transparency, etc.

Investment in seaport infrastructure will create momentum to attract investment (Photo: Dinh Hoang)

Time to Break Out

Hue is facing development opportunities as it has become a centrally-governed city. In the current context, the transformation of the two-tier local government model requires a streamlined government model, multi-functional officials, capable of economic management, knowing how to operate the market, understanding investors and behaving professionally in all public interactions.

Therefore, the city needs to continue reviewing and evaluating the capacity and ethics of public service, especially in the administrative sector related to investment, construction, planning, and resources. Publicizing the process of handling documents and maximizing digital transformation, improving the capacity of officials receiving citizens and officials working with businesses, and "fighting stagnation from within" will be the key to maintaining the trust of the business community. At the same time, the human resource development strategy needs to be focused on: Selecting talented people, building a mechanism to retain talented people, and most importantly - creating a public service environment that promotes dedication and integrity.

Hue has maintained its position in the Top 10 PCI in 2024, which is an encouraging result, but also poses new challenges. Maintaining development and creating a leap forward in the investment and business environment, so that Hue is not only a cultural destination, but also a center of innovation, technology and high-end tourism in the Central region. To do so, in addition to good planning and modern infrastructure, the key factor is still a team of "dedicated and visionary" officials - acting for the development of the city. That is the most "sustainable competitiveness" of Hue in the road ahead.

Dr. Cung Trong Cuong

Source: https://huengaynay.vn/chinh-tri-xa-hoi/theo-dong-thoi-su/dong-luc-tu-cai-cach-hanh-chinh-va-doi-ngu-kien-tao-153362.html