The northeastern province of Quang Ninh has put a great deal of effort into improving its business climate and competitiveness over the last few years.

Inside State Treasury - Quang Ninh branch (Source: VNA)

It topped the Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI) rankings for the third year in a row in 2019, according to the PCI 2019 report from the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI).

VCCI Chairman Vu Tien Loc said the province is home to several models of reform, which helped it rise to the top in investment attraction.

In addition to the PCI, Quang Ninh also led the country in the Public Administration Reform Index (PAR Index) for three consecutive years, in 2017, 2018, and 2019. The province has also been among the best performers in the Satisfaction Index of Public Administration Services (SIPAS) for many years and rose to the top in 2019.

It has also made great strides forward in improving governance and public administration capacity, moving from 62nd place in 2016 to third last year in the Vietnam Provincial Governance and Public Administration Performance Index (PAPI).

Quang Ninh is looking to secure its leading position in improving the local business environment and PCI sustainability, raising its PCI from 73.4 points in 2019 to 75.3 points this year.

It also aims to have eight PCI indicators in the top five and the remaining two in the top 10. Priority will be given to enhancing scores and rankings in three sub-indexes: Entry Costs, Access to Land, and Business Support Services.

According to Director of the provincial Department of Planning and Investment Tran Van Hung, to provide effective support for businesses Quang Ninh has fostered public administrative reform and established multiple channels for dialogue between local administrations and companies. It has also prioritised allocating funding to the development of technical and social infrastructure, Hung said.

Quang Ninh has proactively invested in infrastructure development, particularly in transport, according to Secretary of the provincial Party Committee Nguyen Xuan Ky. Total investment under the public-private partnership (PPP) model in transport over the last five years stands at nearly VND50 trillion, Ky said, with only about 9 percent sourced from the State.

The province has opened two expressways totalling 100 km in length and built by private concerns. One is the 60-km Ha Long - Van Don Highway, costing some VND12 trillion.

It has also put into operation Van Don International Airport, Vietnam’s first private airport, as well as an international passenger terminal in Ha Long city, the first in the country exclusively for cruise ships.

Provincial roads leading to border gates or industrial parks and economic zones have been quickly upgraded to enhance socio-economic links between the province and other localities and regions.

Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Van Thang said the province is pursuing sustainable economic development and green growth while striving to enhance economic effectiveness and competitiveness.

Quang Ninh has been developing high-quality industrial parks and economic zones in Ha Long city and the districts of Quang Yen, Van Don, Hai Ha, and Mong Cai to better serve investors in the processing, manufacturing, and hi-tech industries, he noted.

It has emerged as an ideal destination for investors seeking to diversify their production and expand their supply chains outside China.

“For investors operating in Guangdong in China, Quang Ninh is a destination worth considering in plans to relocate production to Vietnam,” said Pritesh Samuel, an expert from Dezan Shira & Associates Company.

According to the expert, Quang Ninh is viewed as a strategic destination in northern Vietnam and an important link in the northern economic growth triangle of Hanoi - Hai Phong - Quang Ninh.

The province possesses major advantages from Van Don district planning to become a multi-sectoral maritime economic zone and entertainment centre with a casino and high-end sea-island tourism and services.

It is also a gateway for international trade, creating unique, modern, and high-quality products that are internationally competitive.