Da Nang has come out top of Viet Nam’s Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI) for 2015, the third consecutive year that the city has topped this ranking.  Da Nang scored 68.34 points on a 100-point scale, followed by Dong Thap Province with 66.39 points and Quang Ninh Province with 65.75 points. 

This information was released by the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and the US Agency for International Development (USAID) at a ceremony held in Ha Noi on Thursday. 

Present at the event were VCCI President Vu Tien Loc, US Ambassador to Viet Nam Ted Osius, and USAID Viet Nam Mission Director Joakim Parker.  People’s Committee Chairman Huynh Duc Tho attended the event on behalf of Da Nang.

Chairman Tho (middle) receiving the souvenir cup in recognition of Da Nang’s top position in the PCI 2015 on behalf of the local leaders and citizens

In their efforts to develop Da Nang into a smart city, the city authorities have focused on developing an e-government model to help promote the development of high-speed online services at low-cost, the modernisation of public administrative management, and the monitoring of the operation of state management agencies.  The new model has been highly appreciated by the local business community, and it has subsequently been adopted by 17 other localities across the country.

The city’s index for information technology application readiness has reached its highest level in 3 years.  In addition, Da Nang recorded the highest percentage in the country of businesses with access to an e-government system. 

Speaking at the ceremony, Chairman Tho said “Last year, Da Nang made every effort to accelerate its administrative reforms and shorten the time for handling administrative procedures by between 30% and 50%.  In addition to the city’s ‘Year for Culture and Urban Civilisation’ programme, special attention was paid to building the friendly and polite attitude and behaviour of government employees towards customers.”

The city leader also took the opportunity to appeal for domestic and foreign investors to come to his city to experience the friendliness and hospitability of the citizens, and to enjoy the benefits of local preferential policies for them.

The Da Nang Administration Centre

The President of Daiwa Vietnam Co Ltd, Mr Shinichi Iwama, said “The reason why my company has invested in Da Nang is that the seaside city is now emerging as a convenient transit point in Asia.  The city has a more abundant and hard-working labour force than either Ho Chi Minh City or Ha Noi. 

It features a harmonious combination of mountains, sea and pure air which is consistent with my company’s mission of creating a close link between the environment and our products”.  

The General Director of Indochina Capital, Mr Peter R Ryder, said “The enthusiastic support of the city authorities, and their transparent and effective policies, are the main reasons why I decided to choose Da Nang to develop a chain of seaside resorts and hotels.  I am impressed by the well-qualified, well-trained, and intelligent employees in the hospitality sector.  I completely agree with the PCI result”.

Mr Koichi Akiyama, Director of the Kane-M Danang Company, remarked that the PCI result is not the key factor in attracting more investment into the city.  He suggested that the city should speed up administrative reforms, renovate investment promotion activities, and develop larger-scale projects in order to attract more Japanese investors.