(HBO) - Although Hoa Binh province’s provincial competitiveness index (PCI) in 2021 dropped significantly in rankings and scores, many businesses and investors believed that this challenge was also an opportunity for the provincial authorities and its departments, sectors and localities to review and evaluate weaknesses and shortcomings, and carry out drastic measures to create a breakthrough in improving the investment environment and enhancing the province's competitiveness in the coming years.
Many organisations and
individuals wish that the Provincial Public Administration Service Centre will
improve its operation quality to facilitate the settlement of administrative
procedures.
According to the provincial Business Association, over the
past time, enterprises and investors in the province have appreciated efforts
of administrations at all levels and sectors, especially the drastic direction
of the provincial Party Committee and People's Committee in bettering the
business and investment environment and facilitating enterprises’ operations.
The province has also paid attention to removing difficulties and obstacles
facing businesses and investors, especially measures to support businesses
during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the 2021 PCI ranking of Hoa Binh remains
low, which was a "shock" for not only the province but also many
businesses and investors.
The fact showed a surge in the number of investors to the
province has been causing difficulties related to land. Access to land and site
clearance are always the biggest "bottleneck" which causes the most
frustration because it takes a long time, thus leading to the loss of
investment opportunities. Therefore, businesses showed their wish that the
provincial People's Committee will pay attention to and drastically direct the
ground clearance for investment projects; take measures to monitor planned
areas and those being researched, surveyed and deployed by investors so as not
to put more pressure on businesses and investors in compensation for site
clearance.
Ha Trung Nguyen, Vice Chairman of the provincial Business
Association, said that unofficial costs are also a concerning issue. The
provincial 2021 PCI analysis report showed that the percentage of enterprises
reporting that they have to pay unofficial costs for inspectors has not
improved much compared to 2020, hitting 45 percent, making Hoa Binh rank 61st
out of 63 provinces and cities.
Therefore, he proposed the provincial People's Committee
impose sanctions to strictly handle and rotate jobs for irresponsible officials
and civil servants who cause difficulties and troubles for people and
businesses.
Nguyen also suggested conducting inspection once a year, and punish
agencies and individuals that carry out inspections without reporting and
having an annual inspection plan.
Dao Village’s honey – a product certified with a 3-star OCOP (One Commune One Product) rating by Thong Nhat Agricultural Cooperative in Dao Village (Hoa Binh City) – is highly regarded by consumers for its quality, richness, and variety in packaging. The distinctively sweet taste of Dao Village’s honey leaves a lasting impression on anyone who has tried it.
In alignment with Project No. 07-DA/TU, issued by the Hoa Binh provincial Party Committee on November 1, 2021, Lac Thuy district has actively promoted investment and supported the sustainable development of its industrial and handicraft sectors during the 2021–2025 period. Alongside this, the district has remained committed to preserving and revitalising traditional craft villages.
Located in the northern part of Lac Thuy district, with a temperate climate and fertile soil, Phu Thanh commune has great potential and advantages in growing tea. The long-standing experience, combined with strict adherence to organic farming practices in the tea gardens, ensures that the dried tea products from Phu Thanh and Lac Thuy as a whole are sold out immediately upon production, providing a stable and prosperous life for the local people.
Amid efforts to streamline the administrative apparatus, Hoa Binh province has intensified measures to address challenges in land clearance, resettlement support, and infrastructure investment, aiming to speed up the progress of key projects.
Hoa Binh province has posted an unprecedented economic growth rate of 12.76% in the first quarter of 2025, marking its highest quarterly performance to date and positioning it as the second fastest-growing locality in the country, trailing only Bac Giang province.
Under current regulations, products in the One Commune – One Product (OCOP) programme that are rated three stars or higher must undergo re-evaluation every three months. However, in reality, some of these products fail to consistently meet the required standards, raising concerns about the sustainability of their OCOP certification. This underscores the urgent need for producers to enhance product quality and gradually develop their OCOP products into strong, marketable brands.