All-tiers of government in Dak Lak province have carried out various solutions to raise the quality of investment and business environment in the past years. The Dak Lak Provincial People’s Committee issued a number of mechanisms and policies on investment incentives; focused on administrative procedure reform; and gradually improved technical infrastructure in industrial zones, thus enhancing competitiveness and building business confidence.
Investor-centred approach
This is the guideline of the provincial leadership and seriously carried out in the province in recent years. Investors do not need to search for information that concerns them when they come to the province. They are welcomed and served by local authorities when they survey business opportunities. Needless to say, this is an important shift in thinking, perception and action of all levels of government, the first step of building an enabling and serving government.
Mr Dinh Xuan Ha, Director of the Department of Planning and Investment of Dak Lak province, said that in 2016, the province saw more than 700 private enterprises registered for establishment (up 9.6 per cent year on year) with a total investment capital of VND2,880 billion (up 36.04 per cent). The province attracted 98 projects with VND23,896 billion of investment capital in the year. Besides, Dak Lak received and guided over 150 investors, including many foreigners. As an advisory body, the department formed a solution consulting panel assisting investors to tackle difficulties with their projects. Emerging issues beyond the authority of the panel will be recommended to the Provincial People’s Committee for solutions, often at the weekly Thursday of Business programme. The province has received and solved over 39 recommendations from enterprises and investors since September 2016. Overall, the quality of dialogues met their expectations and gained their trust.
Ms Thai Kieu Huong, Director of Xuan Thien - Ninh Binh Co., Ltd, said, with the intention of building a 2,000-MW solar energy facility on 3,500 ha in Ia Lop commune, Ea Sup district, the company registered to meet with provincial leaders on Thursday.
After the meeting, the Provincial People’s Committee actively issued policies and proposed solutions on project deployment with the aim of cutting costs, carrying out related procedures and directed provincial departments and branches to survey and make project recommendations to relevant authorities. Administrative procedures for the survey were accelerated to ensure the required progress of projects. With strong progress, industries and investors feel satisfied and want to be engaged in the province.
Specific action programmes
With the efforts of all levels and sectors, in 2016, the province's business environment positively progressed, evidenced by shorter time required for tackling administrative procedures compared than general regulations. Specifically, with respect to construction licensing procedures, the Dak Lak Department of Construction actively reduced the time from 20 days to 14 days. Regarding procedures for access to electricity, the Dak Lak Department of Industry and Trade in collaboration with Dak Lak Power Company and relevant units developed a joint process to shorten the time of settling power access procedures to 25-33 days. Concerning customs procedures, the customs sector slashed clearance duration of exports and imports to 10 days and 12 days, respectively.
Besides, the province signed a commitment with the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) on forming an enabling business environment for enterprises. Accordingly, the provincial government was committed to carrying out dialogues with businesses to promptly understand and help them deal with their difficulties and obstacles. At the same time, the province encouraged them to send feedback on local regulations and policies, made sure that 100 per cent of regulatory documents on mechanisms and policies promulgated by the province are sent to the business community for useful opinions, and ensured that 100 per cent of administrative procedures relating to investment and business, local regulations, policies and plans are were public at public administration centres at all levels and on websites of units and localities.
In the Action Programme of the Provincial People’s Committee on the implementation of the Government’s Resolution No. 19 on improving business environment and enhancing competitiveness and Resolution 35 on business development support to 2020, many solutions were adopted by the province, including continued administrative reform, e-government deployment, business rights, and equitable access to business resources and opportunities. Consequently, the province expected to have 10,000-12,000 enterprises by 2020, which will contribute to 30-35 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP), make up for 80 per cent of total social investment capital, and share 50-55 per cent of total local budget revenue.
At present, district governments set up hot lines, public addresses and telephone numbers to contact local leaders, and timely responded to requests from enterprises and investors.
Continued priority on administrative procedure reform
At the conference on best practices of improving the provincial competitiveness index (PCI) held by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) in August 2016, Mr Nguyen Hai Ninh, Standing Vice Chairman of the Dak Lak People's Committee, said, to build a more favourable, competitive and transparent business and investment environment than other localities, the province will actively shorten the time required for settling administrative procedures for citizens and enterprises; simplify procedures and methods of fulfilling administrative procedures; and abolish unnecessary administrative procedures to reduce compliance costs by at least 10 per cent a year. PCI must progress with other general objectives and tasks. The province will try to enter the Top 10 group of good-performing localities by PCI rankings.
After referring to successful models in other localities, Dak Lak province will soon establish the Public Administration Service Centre. This new approach is expected to better serve citizens, investors and enterprises with public administrative services by streamlining procedures and serving agents to a minimum so as to reduce the time and expense for investors when they come to do business here and raise their satisfaction with the province.
It is obvious that Dak Lak province’s efforts for a better investment climate in recent years have proved the right and consistent choice with national economic development trends. With consistent solutions, active engagement and responsibility of all-tier governments, Dak Lak province will be a secure, trustworthy and successful destination for domestic and international investors and enterprises.
Kim Bao
Vietnamese
