Dak Nong Extends Best Support for Businesses

To dramatically shift the economic structure towards industrialization and modernization, Dak Nong province always has clear views and policies and gradually strengthens its position on the country's economic map.

Resolution

With the determination of the local government and people, in the past two years, Dak Nong province has achieved positive socioeconomic development targets. Specifically, in 2019, it fulfilled or even exceeded 12 out of 16 targets, with State budget revenue of over VND2.6 trillion - 13% higher than the estimate and 12% more than a year ago, 18,000 new jobs generated and the poverty rate reduced to about 3%. Economic growth was 7.83% and the index of industrial production (IIP) increased 11.6%. The province had five more communes meeting new countryside standards, bringing total certified communes to 12. On average, a certified commune fulfilled 13.9 criteria.

Nevertheless, Dak Nong province also faced certain difficulties and challenges, especially the ongoing COVID-19 epidemic. Mr. Nguyen Bon said, as soon as becoming aware of this contagion, the Party and authorities at all levels in the province will focus on carrying out consistent solutions to keep economic development pace and ensure social security in the coming time. In particular, the province will focus on disease prevention and study policies to remove difficulties and obstacles against businesses and people in production and business activities. Dak Nong will, step by step, apply modern technologies and make products of high added value and high competitiveness for the market. At the same time, it will concentrate on restructuring the agricultural sector towards increasing added value and adapting to climate change and sustainable development.

Speaking on administrative procedure reform (PAR), Bon said, “Administrative procedure reform is an innovative reform policy compared to an institutional “framework” to uplift its effect and efficiency of the economy. Therefore, if the administrative reform is not carried out timely, consistently and effectively, it will be an obstacle that restrains economic development. Therefore, administrative reform is determined by Dak Nong as one of key tasks to gradually give firm directives from written text to practical action”. Specifically, in 2016, the Dak Nong Public Administration Center under the Office of the Provincial People's Committee was established and launched a division in charge of receiving applications and returning results in all eight districts and cities, all 71 communes, wards and towns. It timely reviewed cumbersome administrative procedures, eliminated unnecessary ones and coordinated with relevant agencies to resolve administrative procedures for people and businesses at the earliest time and at a single focal point. The Provincial People’s Committee set up the Provincial Public Service Portal where all administrative procedures were built on modern processes and powered by advanced information technology in receipt and settlement. At the same time, it connected and integrated with the National Public Service Portal as guided by the Prime Minister. In order to reduce the travel time of people and businesses, the province has promoted the deployment of online public services, especially at Level 3 and Level 4 (up to now, 552 online public services are provided at Level 3 and Level 4). In 2019, as many as 312,008 administrative records were solved, of which 99.5% were on time.

Business is a leading force

Bon stressed, “The business is a leading army to ‘activate’ local economic development. The province’s motto is ‘The government enables, supports and accompanies businesses to the end result.” Therefore, the province focuses on improving the investment and business climate and aligning investment attraction with administrative reform under the single-window cross-agency mechanism; organizes regular dialogues with businesses and investors through business conferences and coffee programs; strengthen support for companies to establish and boost trade ties, seek markets and start business; carries out the District and Department Competitiveness Index (DDCI) - a monitoring tool enabling Dak Nong leaders to catch up with tough matters faced by the local business community, to introduce timely solutions and improve the local investment environment.

Sharing more about the province's goals in 2020, he added that Dak Nong province is striving for a total added value of VND22,308 billion (US$1 billion); maintaining economic growth of 7.91%; restructuring the economy to make the agricultural sector to account for 41.58%, the industry - construction sector for 17.22%, and the commercial and service sector for 34.97%. The province targets per capita GRDP of VND51.26 million, and to have four more communes and two districts certified to meet new countryside standards (each commune fulfilling an average of 15 criteria or more). However, being aware of tough world and domestic economic prospects and understanding opportunities and challenges of the local business community, the government of Dak Nong province is determined to carry out three joint actions with enterprises: Working with them, sharing failure and success with them, and accompanying them in the course of penetrating the domestic and world economy.

In order to further promote and improve the Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI), every year, the province will continue to issue resolutions, directives, plans, projects and programs on supporting businesses and enhancing investment and business environment. Growing PCI component scores must be maintained while declining scores must be boosted. Specifically, Dak Nong province will focus on human resources and material resources to improve four high-weight sub-indices: Transparency, informal charge, business support services, and labor training. No matter how closely goals and criteria are followed, the dynamism and responsibility of leaders of all levels of government need to be on the top. Certainly with the efforts of the entire political system and the cooperation of the business community and investors, Dak Nong province will achieve best rankings consistent with local practices.

Han Luong (Vietnam Business Forum)