Hanoi (VNA)♊ – The northerncoastal province of Quang Ninh once again topped Vietnam’s ProvincialCompetitiveness Index (PCI) 2022, according to the PCI 2022 report released onApril 11 by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI).

This is the 6th year in a row Quang Ninhhas topped the charts. It was followed by Bac Giang, Hai Phong, Ba Ria-Vung Tauand Dong Thap. The 2022 PCI report was developed fromresponses from 11,872 firms, including 10,590 domestic private businesses and1,282 foreign-invested enterprises in Vietnam. Since the launch of the first PCI surveyin 2005, nearly 176,500 businesses have participated in the annual surveys,reflecting different facets of the Vietnamese business environment. The 2022 PCI report reveals thetremendous efforts of both businesses and provincial administrations to navigatethrough the first post-pandemic year. According to the report, both domesticand foreign firms reported improvements in administrative procedures,reductions in the time costs of bureaucratic compliance, and getting rid fromthe burden of informal charge. However, reforms in many policy areasare slow and business optimism remains low. Many firms reportdifficulties in access to finance, employment, and limited infrastructuregrowth. They also see a gap between policies and the implementation at thegrassroots level. Speaking at the event, VCCI Chairman PhamTan Cong said that since late last year, businesses in Vietnam have been facingmultiple obstacles from the challenging economic context. Provincial and municipal administrations areexpected to further strengthen business support policies that contribute to amore enabling and stable domestic business environment to make up for theinstabilities of the global market for firms, he said. In this year’s report, the VCCI alsolaunched the Provincial Green Index (PGI), an initiative developed by the VCCI withsupport from the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and private sector partners. The index evaluates and ranks provinces’environmental policy from the perfective of businesses to promote betterbusiness behaviours and practices, including the application of new greentechnologies. Tra Vinh, Lang Son, and Bac Ninh are thetop three PGI performers in this inaugural edition. USAID/Vietnam Mission Director Aler Grubbs said that for nearly two decades,VCCI’s successful PCI has prompted stimulating discussion and effective actionaround critical business climate issues. “The new Provincial Green Index buildson this prior success, and it signals a greater recognition among the privatesector that environmental considerations are equally important for businesssuccess and long-term economic growth,” he said. PGI is expected to encourage provincesand cities in Vietnam to pay greater attention to environmentally responsiveeconomic development, provide up-to-date information for investment/environmentpolicy-making process, and promote an environmentally friendly businessecosystem that contributes to the country’s green growth orientation. Since 2005, the VCCI and the USAID havecooperated to produce the annual PCI report to measure the quality of economicmanagement, the level of convenience and friendliness of the businessenvironment, and administrative reform efforts by provincial administrations,thus promoting the development of the private sector. This year's PCI report was published on theoccasion of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the VCCI (1963-2023) andthe 10th anniversary of the Vietnam - US Comprehensive Partnership (2013-2023)./.