DDCI - "Key" to improving competitiveness of departments, branches and localities

A creative and action-oriented government for businesses is the goal in the current reform process. In Ninh Binh, in parallel with the implementation of solutions for operating and managing socio-economic development goals for the entire 2020-2025 term, the implementation of the Provincial and Local Competitiveness Index (DDCI) from 2021 to present has clearly demonstrated the province's determination to create the most favorable environment for production, business and investment development activities.

Transaction at Ninh Binh Provincial Public Administration Service Center. Photo: Anh Tuan

Overcoming difficulties to succeed

2023 is considered by economic experts to be the most difficult year for production and business activities in the past 30 years. The impact of the economic recession after the COVID-19 pandemic has directly affected all investment activities as well as demand for goods. In that context, the gross domestic product (GRDP) in the province in 2023 still had a growth rate of 7.27% compared to 2022, ranking 23rd out of 63 provinces and cities, higher than the national average. Following that result, in the first 6 months of 2024, Ninh Binh continued to maintain a good growth rate of 8.19% over the same period last year, ranking 12th out of 63 provinces and cities nationwide and 6th out of 11 provinces and cities in the Red River Delta.

This is the result of many drastic management solutions from the province to the grassroots level to promptly and focus on key tasks and solutions to support socio-economic development; especially the work of promoting administrative procedure reform, strongly improving the investment and business environment, removing difficulties, creating the most favorable conditions for business development. In particular, according to the latest announcement, in 2023, the province's administrative reform index PAR INDEX ranked 11th/63 provinces and cities; PCI index ranked 19th/63 provinces and cities. Provincial public administration and governance performance index PAPI ranked 14th/63 provinces and cities; SIPAS administrative service satisfaction index ranked 28th/63 provinces and cities.

This has also clearly demonstrated the determination and drastic leadership and direction of the Provincial Party Committee, People's Council, and Provincial People's Committee with the spirit of focusing on the grassroots and being close to the grassroots; especially the drastic and effective organization of the implementation of goals and tasks, in the effort to create a favorable environment to create momentum and accelerate the socio-economic goals of the 2020-2025 term.

Message of inquiry

With the viewpoint of a creative government accompanying businesses, in recent years, Ninh Binh province has implemented many solutions to improve the investment and business environment; applied information technology in handling administrative procedures and directing and operating at all levels and sectors; promoted digital transformation in the business sector, focused on directing the synchronous implementation of measures to enhance and improve the component indexes of the Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI); Administrative Reform Index (PAR INDEX); Provincial Public Administration Performance Index (PAPI); Satisfaction Index of People and Organizations with the Services of State Administrative Agencies (SIPAS)...

In particular, since 2021, the province has deployed the Competitiveness Index of provincial departments, branches, and sectors and People's Committees of districts and cities (DDCI). This is not only an objective information channel, honestly reflecting the assessment of businesses and people on the management of state administrative agencies; the attitude, responsibility, and style of officials and civil servants in performing public duties, but also a message expressing the province's receptiveness and concern for the business community, with the desire to build a sustainable development of the Ninh Binh business community on the basis of creating an open, transparent, and equal investment and business environment.

The implementation of the assessment and survey of the DDCI Index in Ninh Binh is a breakthrough decision in improving the business environment, demonstrating the determination and pioneering dynamism of the Provincial Leaders, and is a positive signal in improving the province's investment and business environment. The assessment work was implemented methodically according to a thoughtful plan issued by the Provincial People's Committee. The survey process was conducted independently by the consulting unit and closely monitored by the Provincial DDCI Index Implementation Monitoring Working Group. The DDCI assessment results not only show the rankings but, more importantly, clearly express the language of the DDCI Index through the component indicators, from the perspective and measurement of the perception of enterprises.

The publicity of the assessment results and the promotion of the responsibility of leaders in improving the component indicators are meaningful in activating administrative reform initiatives to continuously and effectively improve the business environment and create a new friendly message, ensuring a safe and low-risk business environment for the business community. The political determination and pioneering dynamism of the Provincial Leaders are the premise for effective reforms, demonstrating the quality of management in the new context.

As the unit assigned by the Provincial People's Committee to coordinate with the Department of Planning and Investment to implement the DDCI Index, Mr. Nguyen Xuan Thanh, Chairman of the Provincial Business Association, Chairman of Xuan Thanh Economic Group, commented: "After 3 years of implementation, DDCI has affirmed itself as an important assessment channel. Not only creating trust for businesses when seeing the receptiveness of authorities at all levels, DDCI is also an opportunity to improve economic management and operation; especially administrative reform in a friendly and adaptive direction in the digital era. It can be said that change and reform in general and in the business sector in particular is a long journey, without rest or stopping point, but since implementing the DDCI assessment, it has clearly improved the management of local authorities, achieving encouraging results".

Create "heat", prolong the spirit of reform

2024 is the fourth year that Ninh Binh has implemented the DDCI assessment based on the collection, synthesis, and research of satisfaction levels and opinions of organizations and business establishments in the province on aspects related to economic management, accompanying and supporting production and business activities carried out by provincial departments, branches, and sectors and district People's Committees. Through the statistical results, an overall picture of the business environment in various fields and localities from the perspective of individuals and business organizations will be clearly shown. From there, research and propose solutions to improve the investment and business environment of the province.

Comrade Dinh Thi Thuy Ngan, Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Director of the Department of Planning and Investment, said: This year, we continue to apply a variety of survey forms such as letters sent by post, online surveys, and direct interviews; however, we focus more on direct interviews to get more accurate assessments and feelings from businesses. Along with that, entering the 4th year, associations and organizations representing businesses at the provincial and district levels have accompanied and actively mobilized members to participate in the survey. Along with extensive communication work, businesses, cooperatives, and business households are also more active and responsible for their answers and feelings. With the expected number of businesses, cooperatives, and business households participating, about 3,100 businesses, of which 800 businesses evaluate the local sector; 2,300 businesses evaluate the sector; The expected number of survey ballots issued is about 5,400, which will help provide a more diverse, objective and representative perspective.

The results of the DDCI survey continue to be the basis for research to propose practical solutions to improve the business investment environment, enhance the provincial competitiveness index (PCI); immediately overcome shortcomings and limitations in the management of departments, branches, sectors, and People's Committees of districts and cities. From there, create a competitive movement to improve the quality of economic management among provincial departments, branches, sectors and People's Committees of districts; promote the spirit of proactive administrative reform, especially reform of administrative procedures related to investors and businesses in the area.

Nguyen Thom