Efforts to improve provincial administrative reform index

In 2022, Ninh Binh province's administrative reform index reached 86.64 points (86.64%), ranking 17th out of 63 provinces and cities, an increase of 3 positions compared to 2021 and 1.85% higher than the national average administrative reform index. This significant figure demonstrates the province's efforts and determination in directing administrative reform to better serve citizens and businesses, contributing to socio-economic growth.

Implement solutions in a coordinated manner.

The provincial-level administrative reform index is determined based on a set of criteria structured into 8 assessment areas, 43 criteria, and 102 sub-criteria. In the 8 assessed areas, Ninh Binh continues to maintain its position as 1st out of 63 provinces and cities in the direction and management of administrative reform, achieving 9.5/9.5 points (100%); 4 areas improved their rankings compared to 2021, with the area of "Impact of administrative reform on people, organizations and socio-economic development" showing a breakthrough, increasing by 31 ranks compared to 2021.

It can be said that the province's administrative reform efforts in recent years have achieved positive results. For many years, Ninh Binh has been recognized as one of the provinces with the best quality of governance and effectiveness in improving the investment environment (maintaining the top position in the field of administrative reform leadership and management for two consecutive years).

To achieve these results, the province focused on leading, directing, and managing administrative reform, with a focus on implementing the 2022 theme of the Provincial Party Committee on "Discipline, responsibility, and promoting administrative reform." It actively proposed initiatives and solutions for administrative reform. Simultaneously, it promoted the dissemination of information on administrative reform through diverse and rich content and forms, organizing competitions to learn about administrative reform and digital transformation. This served to raise awareness among stakeholders while encouraging research and the proposal of innovative solutions and initiatives for administrative reform. The province also effectively implemented the administrative reform reporting system and administrative reform inspections, ensuring that the percentage of agencies inspected met regulations and actively directing and urging inspected agencies and units to rectify shortcomings and limitations identified during inspections. The Provincial People's Committee has directed agencies and units to strive to complete the tasks assigned by the Government and the Prime Minister on schedule. The province maintains effective dialogue with businesses and addresses their requests and proposals.

Areas that improved their rankings compared to 2021 include: Administrative Procedure Reform, achieving 12.78/13 points (98.31%), ranking 18th out of 63 provinces and cities (an increase of 0.53% and 22 places compared to 2021); Public Finance Reform, achieving 10.38/12 points (86.5%), ranking 24th out of 63 provinces and cities (an increase of 6% and 11 places compared to 2021). Notably, the impact of administrative reform on citizens, organizations, and socio-economic development of the province achieved 13.57/16.5 points (82.44%), ranking 20th out of 63 provinces and cities (an increase of 10.8% and 31 places compared to 2021).

The reason for the improved ranking in these areas is that the province has effectively implemented regulations on administrative procedure control, promptly addressed issues discovered through administrative procedure reviews, and publicly disclosed the progress and results of file processing on the Administrative Procedure Processing Information System.

To date, 100% of provincial-level specialized agencies and district and commune-level administrative units have complied with regulations on integrating administrative procedures into the inter-agency system within the same level and between different levels of government. In addition, apologies have been issued to citizens and organizations when delays occur in processing administrative procedure applications.

In public finance reform, the province has implemented many comprehensive solutions to accelerate the progress and disbursement of the 2022 public investment plan for projects and works in the province; effectively implemented regulations on the use of funds from the State budget; and there were no violations regarding documents issued by the province on the management and use of public assets.

Efforts to improve the provincial-level administrative reform index. — *Citizens applying for chip-embedded citizen identification cards are provided with convenient and quick processing.*

The results of the 2022 Administrative Reform Index for the province continued to show positive growth, demonstrating that the efforts and determination of local authorities at all levels to promote administrative reform have yielded clear results, and are increasingly recognized and appreciated by the people and the business community.

Mr. Hoang Dinh Xuyen, from Khanh Nhac commune (Yen Khanh district), said: "In recent years, the Yen Khanh district authorities have made many efforts in administrative reform associated with digital transformation. Many administrative procedures directly related to people's lives, such as issuing citizen identification cards; confirming criminal records; registering for health insurance cards, etc., have been streamlined and processed quickly. Administrative procedures and fees are implemented publicly and transparently, which has enhanced the sense of responsibility of officials and civil servants at the One-Stop Service Center in performing their duties. Therefore, I am very satisfied."

Continue efforts to improve the indicators.

However, alongside the achievements, three areas saw a decline in ranking compared to 2021 (Institutional Reform; Administrative Organizational Reform; and Civil Service Reform), with Institutional Reform dropping 39 places. This decline is due to the province still having four legal documents that need to be addressed according to the conclusions of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, and some sociological surveys regarding the consistency, rationality, and feasibility of local legal documents still yielding low results.

Analyzing and synthesizing the results of the 2022 administrative reform index helps the province identify strengths and positive aspects to promote, while also clearly seeing limitations and bottlenecks that lead to a loss of points in the evaluation criteria. Based on this, departments, agencies, and localities need to strengthen solutions to overcome these shortcomings in order to improve scores and enhance the quality of administrative reform. Agencies and units should proactively research and propose initiatives and solutions for administrative reform. They should continue to maintain effective dialogue with citizens and businesses and focus on addressing the suggestions and proposals of citizens and businesses at these dialogue conferences.

Administrative reform is a strategic breakthrough that impacts the socio-economic development of the province. The 2022 assessment and ranking of the administrative reform index also shows that some component criteria are still low and have not met the set requirements. These limitations and shortcomings stem from both objective and subjective causes. Therefore, a stronger transformation is needed, along with a serious and objective assessment of the limitations and the implementation of corrective solutions. It is necessary to continue to improve the awareness and responsibility of officials and civil servants working at the One-Stop Service Centers at all levels in receiving and processing administrative procedures, increasing the rate of applications processed on time and reducing the rate of delayed applications. In cases of delays, apologies must be strictly issued to organizations and citizens. Continue to build and develop e-government and digital government; implement solutions to increase the rate of online applications throughout the entire process and implement online payments. Enhance the effectiveness of implementing solutions to attract investment to the province, and synchronously implement solutions to achieve the socio-economic development targets set for the year. Simultaneously, widely disseminate information about administrative reform to all levels of the population, contributing to building a friendly government and aiming for a transparent, efficient administration that serves the people and businesses.

Text and photos: Mai Lan

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