Top 5 localities leading PCI competitiveness index before merger

The 2024 PCI report is the last time all 63 provinces and cities are included in the rankings, before the process of rearranging provincial administrative units is implemented.

In this year's ranking, Hai Phong for the first time surpassed localities that had held the leading position for many years such as Quang Ninh, Dong Thap... to rise to the number 1 position with 74.84 points, becoming the province with the best economic management quality in the country. Ranked in second place is Quang Ninh province with 73.20 points, an increase of 1.95 points compared to 2023.

Third place is Long An province – a locality that has been in the top 5 provinces and cities with the best economic management quality for three consecutive years. Fourth place is Bac Giang province, this is also the third consecutive year that Bac Giang has been in the top 5 localities of PCI. Ba Ria – Vung Tau province maintains its fifth position, continuing to maintain its position in the top 10 PCI from 2021.

With a score of 68.38, Hanoi rose 4 places in the PCI 2024, from 28th place last year to 24th place, in the top 30 provinces and cities with good governance quality. Compared to 2023, Ho Chi Minh City's PCI 2024 index dropped 2 places in the rankings to 29th place with 67.89 points (27th place in 2023).

The Top 30 PCI 2024 also includes the localities of Thua Thien Hue, Hau Giang, Phu Tho, Dong Thap, Hung Yen, Can Tho, Ben Tre, Ninh Thuan... In which, for the first time Hung Yen ranked 10th in the PCI rankings with Hue, Hau Giang, Phu Tho and Dong Thap.

Top 30 provinces and cities with the highest PCI index in 2024.

In 2023, Phu Tho province entered the national PCI top 10 for the first time with a score of 69.10, ranking 10th out of 63. By 2024, the locality increased by 1.25 points and rose to 8th place, continuing to affirm the clear improvement trend in governance quality and investment and business environment.

In just two years (2022–2024), Phu Tho has risen 16 places in the national PCI rankings (ranked 24th in 2022, with 63.66 points), demonstrating determination in directing and operating, reforming administrative procedures and supporting businesses.

Through analysis of 10 PCI component indexes, in 2024, Phu Tho has 6 component indexes that increased in points compared to 2023. Specifically, the Market Entry index is 7.76 points (7.34 points in 2023); the Time Cost index is 8.01 points (7.61 points in 2023); the Informal Cost index is 7.08 points (7.05 points in 2023); the Fair Competition index is 7.02 points (6.24 points in 2023); the Business Support Policy index is 7.19 points (6.83 points in 2023); the Labor Training index is 7.43 points (6.77 points in 2023).

Mr. Phung Khanh Tai - Deputy Secretary of Phu Tho Provincial Party Committee received the Provincial PCI Index certificate for the top 10 localities in the country. Photo: Phutho.gov.vn

The 4 indexes with slight decreases in scores are: Land access 6.77 points (6.95 points in 2023); Transparency 5.96 points (6.45 points in 2023); Dynamism of provincial government 6.63 points (6.80 points in 2023); Legal institutions and Security and Order 6.90 points (7.40 points in 2023).

The PCI report recorded many positive changes in Phu Tho's component indicators. In recent times, the province has promoted administrative procedure reform, simplified investment processes, applied information technology to document processing, and reduced time and costs for businesses. Maintaining a regular dialogue mechanism between the government and the business community has also contributed to increasing satisfaction and creating confidence for investors.

Also in the VCCI rankings, Thanh Hoa rose strongly to rank 21st with 68.74 points, ranking 2nd in the North Central region.

Looking back at the years from 2017 to 2019, Thanh Hoa's PCI Index was always in the top 30 in the rankings. However, 2 years later, Thanh Hoa's PCI Index dropped rapidly, to 43rd place (in 2021) and 47th out of 63 provinces and cities nationwide (in 2022).

Thanh Hoa strives to promote administrative reform (Photo: BTH).

Determined to innovate and improve its ranking, Thanh Hoa province has synchronously implemented many solutions to overcome limitations and weaknesses and achieved worthy results. In 2023, Thanh Hoa rose to the top 30 localities at the top of the PCI Index rankings, up 17 places compared to 2022. And with a strong transformation in 2024, Thanh Hoa entered the top 3 most reformed localities in 20 years (2005 - 2024).

Long An is in the top 2 localities with the most outstanding reforms in 20 years of implementation.

In the provincial competitiveness index, Long An is ranked 3rd with 72.64 points.

The PCI results also reflect the province’s comprehensive efforts in improving the business investment environment, making the province a bright spot, attractive to large domestic and foreign investors. This also affirms that the quality of economic management at the provincial level continues to improve.

Along with the implementation of the DDCI Index, in recent times, Long An province has also promoted domestic and foreign investment promotion activities to promote its potential, advantages, image, and open and attractive investment environment to investors and partners.

In investment promotion, the province's orientation is to proactively attract and selectively cooperate in investment, taking quality, efficiency, technology and environmental protection as priority criteria. At the same time, the province focuses on attracting large investors with capital potential and advanced technology to invest in the province's advantageous fields.

In particular, the provincial leaders proactively introduced themselves to large domestic corporations and investors and directly to many countries around the world to approach and invite large corporations and enterprises to invest in the province. This is also an important factor in creating an attractive investment environment in the eyes of investors.

Through investment promotion activities, a series of large domestic and foreign corporations have come to Long An to research, survey, and seek investment and business opportunities. Many strategic, potential, and reputable investors have implemented projects in the province.

Top 10 localities attracting large enterprises in 2024. Source: Vietnam Report, December 2024

With innovative approaches, in 2024, Long An province is honored to be in the top 10 most attractive localities for large enterprises. By the end of the first quarter of 2025, Long An province has 2,278 DDI projects with registered capital of more than VND 511,000 billion and 1,409 FDI projects with registered investment capital of USD 12,783.6 million.

Increase transparency index

With the viewpoint "Long An Provincial Government continues to accompany and develop together with businesses", in recent times, the province has promoted administrative reform.

In 2024, Long An's Transparency Index reached 6.63 points, an increase of 0.64 points compared to 2023. This is also one of the bright spots demonstrating the province's commitment to accompanying and supporting businesses.

With the synchronous implementation of solutions to improve PCI, accompanying and supporting businesses, the province's investment environment is increasingly open and transparent, bringing peace of mind and trust to businesses and investors, Long An province continues to maintain its position in the top group of the country in attracting investment.

In the coming time, Long An will continue to effectively exploit its competitive advantages, promote its role in regional connectivity, upgrade infrastructure, reform administration, innovate thinking and working methods in investment promotion, digitize and publicize information documents about the province. These are solutions that the province has identified as strategic breakthroughs to strongly improve the investment and business environment, helping the province to get closer to domestic and foreign investors...

Mr. Nhu

Minh Trang - Tho Loan - Ngoc Phuc

Source: https://baophapluat.vn/top-5-dia-phuong-dan-dau-chi-so-canh-tranh-pci-truoc-khi-sap-nhap-post547538.html