(HBO) – Strongly improving economic governance and the business environment is one of the top requirements to create sustainable momentum for attracting resources for socio-economic development. To continue raising the Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI), the Hoa Binh provincial People’s Committee has ordered the building of a set of District and Department Competitiveness Index (DDCI) criteria and a plan for surveying businesses’ opinions about the local investment and business environment.
Thanks to authorities’ assistance to handle investment procedures, the Hai Hien Bamboo and Wood joint Stock Company, based in the Mong Hoa Industrial Park in Hoa Binh city, has maintained stable production and business activities.
In 2021, the provincial Business Association devised and proposed the set of DDCI criteria which was applied on a trial basis under the decision of the provincial People’s Committee on March 31, 2021.
For districts, the DDCI consists of nine sub-indexes, namely market entry and licensing; transparency in information access and treatment equality; quality of public services and the single-window divisions; proactivity; administrative procedure implementation and law compliance costs; unoffical charges; production and business assistance; law enforcement efficiency, legal institutions, and security - order; and access to land.
According to the provincial Business Association, the DDCI survey last year revealed many problems, including those related to transparency in information access and treatment equality. While the sub-index of informal charges at departments had the lowest score, the sub-index of access to land and business locations in all district-level localities failed to meet expectations as it was also lower than others.
To boost awareness and action to improve local economic governance and management for the sake of enterprises and investors, the provincial People’s Committee issued the set of DDCI criteria on July 30, 2022.
Hoang Quang Phong, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the DDCI application is critically important since it will create a push for departments and localities in Hoa Binh province to develop stronger resolve and determination to fulfill their duties in supporting businesses. It is also useful for enterprises to report and have their issues solved more quickly.
Only through dialogue and cooperation in an open and constructive spirit can bottlenecks and shortcomings be resolved, helping businesses promote their operations, earn profits, and contribute to the province and the State, he noted./.
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.