In an interview with Vietnam Business Forum, Mr. Huynh Cong Quan, Director of the Department of Planning and Investment of Bac Lieu, said: “Businesses need only do easy tasks, the state agencies have to deal with difficult ones”. With this motto, the Bac Lieu provincial government always accompanies, removes difficulties, and creates motivation for businesses to develop, thereby affirming that Bac Lieu is a "good land where birds perch", especially for businesses and investors.
Mr. Pham Van Thieu, Chairman of Bac Lieu Provincial People's Committee, engages in discussions with businesses to proactively address challenges and foster a conducive business environment
Can you tell us about the results of investment attraction in Bac Lieu province recently?
With the attention and firm and close direction of the Provincial Party Committee, People's Council, and People's Committee along with the efforts of the entire political system, investment attraction activities have been promoted with high effectiveness.
To date, Bac Lieu province has attracted 195 investment projects (including 179 domestic projects with total registered investment capital of 62,483 billion VND and 16 FDI projects with total registered investment capital of 4.509 billion USD). In the first 9 months of 2023 alone, the province has granted license for 05 new investment projects, with a total registered capital of 192 billion VND.
In general, investors have good resources, experience as well as the determination to strive to complete projects on schedule as committed to the province, thereby contributing to promoting the socio-economic development of the province.
In the context of the economy facing many difficulties, what solutions does Bac Lieu province have to support businesses?
Bac Lieu province has firmly and effectively implemented many solutions to promptly remove difficulties for the business community and investors in their production and investment activities. In particular, we focus on key solutions such as: Strengthening, innovating and improving the effectiveness of organizing dialogues and meetings with businesses and investors; Timely disseminating and implementing business support policies and investment incentives issued by the Government, so that the business community and investors in the province can access, carry out procedures and supporting policies and beneficial incentives according to regulations.
At the same time, the province has implemented many activities to support business connection in industry clusters and value chains, contributing to increasing the product chain from input materials to consumer markets in the area, forming fast-growing businesses, contributing to local socio-economic development. We also enhance the effectiveness of administrative reform, which shortens the time to resolve administrative procedures related to businesses and investors.
Bac Lieu province has made many efforts to reform administrative procedures and improve the investment and business environment, but the annual PCI Index has not been as expected. What do you think about this reality?
The Provincial Party Committee and People's Committee determined that improving the business environment and enhancing competitiveness towards sustainable development are important and regular tasks. But according to the announced results, the province's 2022 PCI Index decreased in score and ranking. This shows that although the province has made many determinations to improve and enhance the PCI Index, it has not yet brought effective results. However, component indices such as Market Entry; The province's legal institutions and security and order have increased significantly in scores and rankings. These are important criteria to create a healthy investment and business environment, creating peace of mind for businesses and investors when investing in the province.
As we know, along with the PCI, to clearly understand a province's investment environment, it is necessary to consider many factors such as: Growth Index, Administrative Reform Index, and investment attraction situation. However, currently the PCI is a tool to evaluate the quality of economic management and administrative reform efforts of localities, reflecting the competition in attracting investment between provinces, and is considered a "bridge" between the business community, investors and the provincial authority. Therefore, the Bac Lieu’s PCI in recent years have not improved scores and rankings, which is a problem that Bac Lieu province needs to seriously consider and propose effective solutions to improve this index in the future.
Capturing the picturesque coastal area of Bac Lieu province, where nature meets economic vitality
Can you tell us some key solutions that Bac Lieu province will implement to improve the investment and business environment in the near future?
Creating an open, transparent and equitable business investment environment where businesses and investors can "live well" and "live healthy" is a top priority to contribute to improving the province’s attraction. The province has issued many guiding documents in the spirit of "Always accompanying investors and businesses", and "Businesses need only do easy tasks, the state agencies have to deal with difficult ones". In particular, we especially promote the leadership, management and public service ethics of the authority in all levels and sectors, considering businesses and investors as "customers" to serve.
To improve the investment and business environment, the province will continue to organize dialogues with business community, paying special attention to the quality of business dialogues. We will simplify and promote comprehensive administrative reform, enhance online handling of public service administrative procedures throughout the process, promoting the role of the Provincial Business Association as a bridge between businesses and local authorities. Bac Lieu will also strengthen the training of local labor resources, especially high-quality labor resources to meet the labor demand of businesses. In addition, we will promote propaganda and raise awareness about the province's PCI to the business community, investors, officials, civil servants and public employees.
Thank you very much!
By Viet Huynh, Vietnam Business Forum
Vietnamese
October 2024
Hanoi