On the afternoon of April 8, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended the announcement ceremony of the Index to assess the implementation results of free trade agreements (FTA Index) of localities in 2024.
The Prime Minister said the Government will continue to promote solutions to maximize benefits from signed FTAs... - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac
The event is chaired by the Ministry of Industry and Trade, in coordination with the Government Office and relevant agencies, connecting online from the Government headquarters to the People's Committees of provinces and centrally run cities.
At the Dak Lak province bridge, there were Mr. Luu Van Khoi - Director of the Department of Industry and Trade, leaders of Departments and branches.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade said that Vietnam has negotiated, signed and implemented 17 FTAs with more than 60 partners across all continents, making an important contribution to the development of Vietnam's economy to become increasingly developed and strong.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh speaks at the announcement ceremony of FTA Index 2024.-Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac
To further improve the effectiveness of FTA implementation, in 2024, the Ministry of Industry and Trade chaired the development of the FTA Index. This is a quantitative and systematic tool, built on the basis of a survey of enterprises in 63 provinces and cities across the country.
The FTA Index is built on four main pillars: FTA dissemination and propaganda; implementation of legal regulations on FTA; policies to support competitiveness enhancement; and implementation of commitments on sustainable development.
The total score of each locality is calculated based on a 10-point scale for each component index, forming a maximum total score of 40.
Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien delivered the opening speech. - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac
According to the survey results, the top 10 localities leading the country in terms of FTA Index score in 2024 include: Ca Mau (34.90 points), Thanh Hoa (34.13 points), Binh Duong (34.03 points), Khanh Hoa (32.96 points), Tra Vinh (32.74 points), Long An (32.50 points), Ha Giang (32.46 points), Bac Lieu (32.43 points), Ninh Binh (31.74 points), Dien Bien (31.72 points).
The FTA Index 2024 recorded an average score of 26.20 points for 63 provinces and cities, while the province with the lowest score only reached 14.49 points. This shows a significant difference between localities in their capacity to implement integration commitments.
The survey also showed that the Department of Industry and Trade is the main channel for disseminating information about FTAs in localities, chosen by the majority of businesses (59.3%). This is also the agency assigned to be the focal point for implementing FTAs in localities.
In addition, the Department of Information and Communications and the Department of Planning and Investment are also two agencies with a high rate of disseminating information about FTAs to businesses, with the corresponding rates of 23% and 19.5%.
Delegates attending Dak Lak bridge point
In his opening speech, Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien said that the establishment of the FTA Index is not only a simple ranking, but also a strategic step in measuring the effectiveness of international integration at the local level - where FTA commitments are directly implemented to businesses.
Through this set of indicators, the Government will have a better understanding of the implementation of support for businesses to take advantage of FTAs in localities to have directions and monitor the implementation of FTAs in localities. As well as have timely solutions and support to overcome difficulties, thereby helping businesses have sustainable development orientations, meeting integration standards.
The leaders of the Ministry of Industry and Trade pointed out that the assessment of FTA implementation results through this set of indicators is not only for "comparison", but also a driving force for localities and business communities to effectively implement and optimize opportunities from FTAs. The goal is to diversify markets, supply chains and export products, contributing to maintaining sustainable export growth momentum and realizing the goal of international economic integration in a practical and effective manner as set by the Party and State.
However, Mr. Dien also frankly stated that from practice, it is shown that the implementation and utilization of FTAs are still uneven among localities. Therefore, it requires measurement, evaluation and stronger solutions from central and local FTA enforcement management agencies as well as breakthroughs in thinking and action to further increase the opportunities brought by FTAs.
The Prime Minister awarded Certificates of Merit to five provinces and cities that have made achievements in evaluating the implementation results of free trade agreements (FTA Index) in 2024 - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac
Speaking at the event, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said that Vietnam is facing great opportunities and significant challenges from the international economic integration process in the context of complex and unpredictable developments in the world and region, requiring flexible, timely and effective adaptation.
In particular, effectively exploiting FTAs is an important way to maintain growth and enhance Vietnam's position in the international arena. This is not only the responsibility of the Government but also requires the cooperation of ministries, sectors, localities, the business community and industry associations.
Therefore, the Prime Minister requested that agencies and localities need to closely coordinate with the Ministry of Industry and Trade to perfect this tool, serving the country's long-term economic and trade strategy.
The Prime Minister said the Government will continue to promote solutions to maximize benefits from signed FTAs, improve the quality of implementing international commitments, expand markets and sign new FTAs with potential partners; and diversify markets and supply chains.
At the announcement ceremony, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh awarded certificates of merit to 5 provinces and cities that have made achievements in evaluating the results of implementing FTAs in 2024. Leaders of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Home Affairs, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also awarded certificates of merit to 4 provinces and cities with the best results in evaluating the results of implementing FTAs in 2024 for the component indicators; 8 provinces and cities with good results and 14 provinces and cities with fair results in evaluating the results of implementing FTAs in 2024.
Source: https://daklak.gov.vn/-/cong-bo-bo-chi-so-anh-gia-ket-qua-thuc-hien-fta-index-nam-2024
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