HÀ NỘI — The Mekong Delta province of Đồng Tháp proudly wears its business-friendliness on its sleeve.

Last year, it surprised the nation with the “Chairman Café”, an establishment in close proximity to the Đồng Tháp People’s Committee headquarters.

The café has become a space where representatives of local businesses can meet regularly with provincial Chairman Nguyễn Văn Dương, Party Committee Secretary Lê Minh Hoan and other key figures to discuss regulatory obstacles and solutions.

It has been hailed as a creative, interactive channel between governmental leaders, policy makers and businessmen, setting a fresh example for government to business interactions.

The province continues to build on its image with a third-place ranking in the latest provincial competitiveness index (PCI) released by the Việt Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI).

The ranking records major improvement in the province’s market integration, labour quality, business support, information disclosure and improvements in its legal framework.

Several policy chances from the provincial leadership in recent years have been credited with effecting positive changes in the investment and business environment.

The Đồng Tháp’s Department of Planning and Investment has issued several incentive policies for investors under its 2016-20 plan, particularly in the agriculture, seafood, and infrastructure structures, as also several light industries.

The policies have included tax breaks on land, import inputs, income tax concessions and low interest loans for both domestic and international investors.

“We consider local businesses’ success as our own, and always try our best to solve any regulatory problem they may encounter here in Đồng Tháp in a timely and efficient manner, to ensure the most favourable conditions for their operation,” said provincial Chairman Dương.

Other actions by the province’s leadership include the creation of a public administration centre in October 2016 to resolve bureaucratic procedures with 16 provincial departments.

Đồng Tháp has also promoted the use of social media in addition to their official site to promote information transparency.     

In 2016, more than 55 new investors visited Đồng Tháp looking for business opportunities, and the province also recorded significant improvement on the entrepreneur scene.

Just last year, 418 businesses were newly registered in Đồng Tháp with a total capital of VNĐ2.48 trillion (US$111.3 million), a 5.3 per cent increase over 2015.

Additionally, the province also issued investment certificates to 42 projects with total capital of 2.14 trillion, in industrial construction, agriculture and the service sectors.

Although Đồng Tháp’s latest spot in the VCCI’s ranking is one notch below from second place in 2015, the fact that it has been in the top three for five consecutive years reflects sustained efforts to improve the province’s business and investment environment.

Chairman Dương has stated the administration’s intention to continue improving the regulatory environment.  — VNS