Ba Ria - Vung Tau progressing in competitive capacity

Vietnam has undergone 20 years of implementing the Comprehensive Administrative Reform Program, comprising the periods of 2001 - 2010, 2011 - 2020, and currently, the Comprehensive Administrative Reform Program for the 2021 - 2030 period (as stipulated in Government Resolution No. 76/NQ-CP).

During the 2011 - 2020 period, the Ministry of Home Affairs was responsible for developing the AR Index and implementing it from 2012 onwards to assess and rank the annual AR results of government agencies and provinces. BRVT achieved positive results during this period, contributing to the local socio-economic development.

In the 2021 - 2030 period, AR focuses on six key areas: institutional reform, administrative procedure reform, organizational reform of state administrative bodies, civil service reform, public finance reform, and the development of e-government and digital government. The central focus of AR in the next 10 years, as defined by the government, is institutional reform, with a concentration on building and improving the institutional framework of public administration and enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of law enforcement organizations. This includes the development of a professional, capable, and ethical civil service workforce to meet the requirements of national development. Special emphasis will be placed on reforming salary policies and building and developing e-government and digital government.

This is considered an essential management tool that allows the government to quantitatively, accurately, and objectively monitor and evaluate the implementation and results of administrative reform efforts by various ministries and provinces. It addresses subjectivity, qualitative, and one-sided issues in monitoring and evaluating administrative reform and enhances the participation of citizens, organizations, and businesses in the process of implementing administrative reform by government agencies and provinces.

To provide an objective assessment of the above-mentioned content, the government has utilized evaluation indices such as PAPI (Provincial Governance and Public Administration Performance Index), PAR INDEX (AR Index), and SIPAS (Satisfaction Index of Citizens and Organizations with Public Administrative Services) to achieve the outlined objectives.

In 2022, BRVT achieved an AR Index of 87.47 points, ranking 6th out of 63 provinces and cities, a significant increase of 10 positions compared to 2021. This achievement places BRVT at the forefront of the provinces in the Southeastern region.

From 2015 to the present, 2022 marked the year with the highest increase in the PAR (Public Administration Reform) Index for BRVT. Notably, the most significant improvement was in the impact of administrative reform on economic and social development in terms of attracting investment and revenue collection, as well as the implementation of economic and social targets set by the provincial People's Council.

Specifically, in 2022, BRVT achieved an PAR Index of 87.47 points, ranking 6th out of 63 provinces and cities, leading the Southeastern region. Regarding the SIPAS (Satisfaction Index of Citizens and Organizations with Public Administrative Services), BRVT ranked 18th out of 63 provinces and cities, marking a 20-position increase from 2021.

These figures were announced by the Government's AR Steering Committee at the conference disclosing the results of the 2022 AR Index ranking for government agencies, sectors, provincial and centrally-administered city People's Committees, and the satisfaction index with administrative services in 2022 (held on April 19, 2023).

In 2022, BRVT was evaluated as making a significant breakthrough, achieving numerous important results. Specifically, the rate of timely processing of documents reached 1,013,457 cases, with a rate of 99.81%. Among them, the proportion of documents processed online by citizens reached 53.02%, surpassing the target set by the National Committee for Digital Transformation.

To date, the BRVT Provincial People's Committee has delegated authority in 10 areas, with 20 content areas, and has implemented decentralization in 6 areas, with 20 content areas. It is expected that in 2023, delegation of authority will continue in 4 areas, with 6 content areas (public investment, inspection, transportation, environmental resources), and decentralization will extend to 13 areas with 27 content areas.

Furthermore, the quality of the civil service workforce has been improved through competitive recruitment (74 out of 91 positions), and the recruitment of leadership positions (6 deputy directors of departments, 230 leadership positions in provincial and district-level agencies).

These accomplishments result from the effective implementation of specific measures outlined in Directive No. 10/CT-UBND of the province and the efficient execution of the digital transformation program integrated with administrative reform and Project 06.

Over the past two years, BRVT has made significant efforts to improve the business environment and implement various models at the district and commune levels, such as "No Waiting Thursdays," "Listening to People on Saturdays," and "Digital Signing of Large-Scale Maps." Among these models, "No Waiting Thursdays" involves government agencies and units selecting simple administrative procedures to be completed within the day, ahead of legal regulations. This helps reduce the need for citizens and businesses to make multiple trips for administrative procedures.

However, the Provincial Governance and Public Administration Performance Index (PAPI) for the province stands at 41.99 out of 80 points, placing it in Group 3 (Average-Low Score Group) and ranking 34th out of 63 provinces and cities nationwide.

According to surveys conducted among residents on eight PAPI indices, such as citizen participation at the grassroots level, transparency, accountability, anti-corruption efforts, public administrative procedures, public service delivery, environmental governance, and e-governance, the satisfaction level of residents in the province regarding public administrative procedures related to land use rights certificates (CNQSD) is low. Access to land information for residents is also limited, with a rate of less than 20%.

In line with this direction, the provincial People's Committee of BRVT has established a "Special Task Force" to address the difficulties faced by businesses with the principle of resolving issues to the fullest extent possible. It is expected that this initiative will contribute to improving key AR indices, enhancing the investment environment, and increasing the satisfaction levels of residents and businesses in the region.

By Bao Han