Da Nang topped the Provincial Public Administration Reform Index 2013 (PAR INDEX 2013), fulfilling 87.02 percent of the criteria on reform completion, 9.46 percent higher than the national average of 77.56 percent.

These figures were released by the Ministry of Home Affairs at a meeting in Ha Noi on September 5, announcing the PAR INDEX 2013 for the country’s 63 provinces and cities, and 19 ministries and ministerial-level agencies.

Closely behind Da Nang lay Hai Phong City with 86.93 percent, and Binh Duong province with 86.86 percent. The northern province of Son La came last in the index with 58.91 percent.

30 provinces and cities fared better than in 2012, such as Phu Tho, Vinh Phuc, Binh Thuan, Ha Tinh, Dong Nai, Ben Tre and Tra Vinh, while 30 others ranked lower.

Dong Nai jumped to the 17^th position compared to 43^rd last year, meeting over 80 percent over the criteria for reform completion.

In the meantime, the Ministry of Transport ranked top in the Ministerial Public Administration Reform Index with 81.06 percent, followed by the State Bank of Vietnam with 80.38 percent, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with 80.31 percent. The Committee for Ethnic Minority Affairs came last with 66.71 percent.

The 2013 index showed that seven ministries had slipped compared to 2012, including the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Government Inspectorate, the Ministry of Information and Communications, the Ministry of Planning and Investment, and the Committee for Ethnic Minority Affairs.

Meanwhile, nine ministries improved their rankings, namely the Ministry of Transport, the State Bank of Vietnam, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Construction, the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment, the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, and the Ministry of Health.

Speaking at the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Phuc said that based on the PAR INDEX report, ministries and localities should develop specific measures to remedy their shortcomings and enhance their ranking in the index in years to come.

The Deputy PM also asked the Ministry of Home Affairs to make the PAR INDEX more transparent and practical, and urged ministries and localities to effectively implement administrative reform in order to better meet the demands of the people and society.

(Source: VNA)