The province, home to the UNESCO heritage site Ha Long Bay, has been in the top five since 2013.
Over the past five years, Quang Ninh has focused on administrative reform through its Public Administration Centre and the Investment Promotion Agency, which have helped shorten waiting periods and reduce transaction costs for investors and businesses.
The province tops the list in the Entry Costs sub-index, with only 6% of firms waiting over a month to complete the necessary procedures for commencing operations.
Furthermore, four out of five enterprises agree that the registration procedures are posted in a transparent fashion, the instructions on procedures are clear and adequate, and the staff are professional, knowledgeable and friendly.
Quang Ninh Chairman Nguyen Duc Long said that the province has made persistent efforts to achieve this position but noted that there is still a lot of room for further reform.
Although Da Nang has lost its top position, businesses in the city continue to hold a positive assessment of the municipal government’s transparency and regulatory procedures.
The remaining provinces in the top five are Dong Thap, Long An and Ben Tre.
The 2017 PCI Report shows the impressive reform efforts made by local governments across the country, with many governance areas improving in 2017 in order to remove obstacles for businesses.
Moreover, informal charges have been on the decline, the business environment has been more equal, and administrative procedures have been simplified.
According to Vu Tien Loc, chairman of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, positive improvements have been the dominant trend in Vietnam’s business environment for the past year.
He said that provinces and cities nationwide have actively implemented the directives of the Prime Minister, learning to employ good practices and experience from the top performers in order to improve their local business environment.
