The DDCI set for 2020 includes eight sub-indexes for departments and agencies and nine sub-indexes for localities, reflecting the economic governance fields that impact the development of enterprises in the private economic sector. The DDCI survey was actively responded by the business community with 1,356 comments and assessments on departments, agencies and localities. Its results have helped leaders of the province, departments, agencies and localities identify bottlenecks in improving the local investment and business environment.

A production line at Nichirin Vietnam Co., Ltd., in the Quang Chau Industrial Park, Viet Yen district.

Positive trends were seen through the survey. Specifically, businesses assessed that the ability to access information and documents that are not available on the mass media was quite good. 85.75 percent of enterprises surveyed said that all departments and agencies, and 82.17 percent of local authorities were willing to provide information when requested by enterprises. The publication of administrative procedures was appreciated by enterprises. 74.04 percent of those questioned said that they did not see departments and agencies passing the buck.

The phenomenon of returning documents when enterprises come to perform administrative procedures was no longer popular. Staff at the one-stop-shop (OSS) division were also highly evaluated by businesses. Only 4.54 percent of enterprises surveyed said that the OSS staff at departments and agencies behaved unprofessionally and improperly while the rate for localities was 7.69 percent.

As another highlight, enterprises assessed that the leaders of the units always grasped and promptly removed obstacles facing enterprises within their authority. Specifically, the percentage was 91.02 percent for departments and agencies and 87.22 percent for localities. Traffic infrastructure was said to be improved positively. The DDCI survey showed that enterprises were very optimistic about economic recovery in 2021, reflecting their appreciation of the province’s investment and business environment. The strong engagement of authorities at all levels and their solutions to improve the investment and business environment and support enterprises have proven effective.

However, besides the positive trends, there were still limitations. Last year, enterprises assessed that unofficial costs remained high. The proportion of enterprises reflecting their difficulties and problems through the Business Association channel was still low.

Staff of the Bac Giang city People's Committee handle administrative procedures for people and businesses.

In addition, the land encroachment and violation of construction order and environmental protection were popular. The survey also showed that in 2020, the fields that enterprises often encountered the most difficulties in their operation were market expansion, sales on supermarkets, e-commerce, recruitment of high-skilled employees. site clearance during project implementation, brand building and development, access to bank loans, investment procedures, environmental impact assessment, dossier appraisal and issuance of construction permits.

On the basis of the above assessments, in order to improve the local investment and business environment quickly and sustainably, authorities at all levels must take more drastic actions in reforming administrative procedures and gradually improving the service quality. It is necessary to change the perceptions of cadres, civil servants and public employees in serving people and businesses.

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Nguyen Cuong