HÀ NỘI — The northern port city of Hải Phòng has, for the first time, topped the 2024 Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI) with a score of 74.84, marking a significant milestone in its economic governance journey.

The PCI 2024 results were officially announced by the Việt Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) at a ceremony held in Hà Nội on Tuesday.

According to VCCI Chairman, Phạm Tấn Công, Hải Phòng’s rise to the top reflects its consistent efforts to improve the local business climate, through key reforms such as streamlining administrative procedures and promoting investment.

Joining Hải Phòng in the top five were Quảng Ninh (73.20 points), Long An (72.64), Bắc Giang (71.24) and Bà Rịa – Vũng Tàu (71.17).

This year’s top 30 also featured other notable provinces and cities including Thừa Thiên Huế, Hậu Giang, Phú Thọ, Đồng Tháp, Hưng Yên, Cần Thơ, Bến Tre and Ninh Thuận.

Hưng Yên also entered the top ten for the first time.

The release of the 2024 PCI marks 20 years since the index was first introduced, with the goal of fostering a transparent, business-friendly, and competitive environment across Việt Nam.

The 2024 report is based on feedback from nearly 11,000 domestic and foreign enterprises, offering a comprehensive overview of provincial economic governance and business sentiment nationwide.

This year’s PCI continues to highlight reform efforts at the local level, while also addressing the challenges businesses face. Notably, the 2024 edition expands its scope to include assessments on environmental governance and green investment promotion - key indicators as localities move toward sustainable development and green growth.

Công also said that PCI 2024 would be the final edition to evaluate all 63 provinces and cities in their current form, ahead of the upcoming administrative restructuring outlined in the Party Central Committee’s Resolution No 60-NQ/TW, which takes effect in 2025.

He added that as provinces merge and local governance becomes more complex, maintaining and enhancing economic management quality would be critical. In this context, the PCI would remain an essential tool, offering data-driven insights to guide smooth, efficient and balanced regional development during the transition.

The Secretary of Hải Phòng City Party Committee Lê Tiến Châu, said the city had made persistent efforts to create a more favourable business climate and responsive administration.

"In 2024, the city achieved a rare hat-trick by leading in three key national indicators: the PCI, the Public Administration Reform Index (PAR Index), and the Satisfaction Index of Public Administrative Services (SIPAS). This triple recognition affirms Hải Phòng’s strong commitment to reform and its reputation as an attractive destination for investors," Châu said.

Over the past several years, Hải Phòng has consistently improved its PCI rankings, thanks to bold reforms focused on streamlining administrative procedures, building digital government systems, and enhancing the professionalism of public service delivery.

"From 2019 to 2023, the city saw a notable shift in its PCI performance, breaking into the top tier of provinces nationwide. In 2021, Hải Phòng reached second place among 63 provinces and cities. It maintained its strong showing in the following years, ranking third nationally in both 2022 and 2023, and second within the Red River Delta region," he added.

The local government has issued numerous action plans for administrative reform, with a strong focus on assigning clear responsibilities to individual officials and Party members, under the guiding principle of 'six clears'. Clear personnel, clear tasks, clear timelines, clear accountability, clear outcomes, and clear authority. Regular dialogues with both domestic and foreign-invested enterprises have helped promptly resolve bottlenecks and improve policy responsiveness.

Hải Phòng has also led efforts in digital transformation. By 2024, all administrative procedures had been handled at its One-Stop Service Centre, with full publication of procedures and service fees online. The city has also waived or reduced fees for online public services and ensured 100 per cent connectivity across all wards and communes through a specialised data network, paving the way toward full digital governance.

The Deputy Secretary General and Head of the Legal Department at the Việt Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), Đậu Anh Tuấn, said the latest PCI report painted a positive picture of provincial governance improvements, with the median score rising to 67.67 — a one-point increase over 2023.

This marked the eighth consecutive year the national median PCI score has exceeded 60 points — the threshold indicating a favourable business environment. Notably, the core index of economic governance quality reached 68.18, continuing its steady upward trend since 2016.

“These improvements reflect the determination and persistence of local governments in driving reforms, as well as the active oversight and feedback from the business community,” Tuấn said.

Last year, the 2023 PCI – announced in April 2024 – ranked Quảng Ninh, Long An, Hải Phòng, Bắc Giang and Đồng Tháp among the top five performers in economic governance. — VNS