The Viet Nam Centre for Development and Integration (CDI) and the Viet Nam Centre for Economic and Strategic Studies (VESS) have announced the 2021 Provincial Open Budget Index (POBI).

Da Nang reached 88.94 points, ranked 6^th out of the total 63 provinces and cities in terms of budget transparency, behind Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Khanh Hoa, Lai Chau, Vinh Long, Cao Bang. Thus, Da Nang dropped 4 places as compared to the POBI 2020 rankings.

The results of the POBI 2021 survey showed that the level of budget disclosure of the provinces did not improve significantly compared to POBI 2020. The average ranking score of the provincial budget publicity reached 69.53 out of 100 points, an increase of 0.44 points compared to 2020.

POBI is based on three principles: budget transparency, accountability of provincial organisations, and public participation in the budget-building process. Encouragingly, Da Nang still took the lead in the leaderboard in the criteria of public participation.

The index aims to encourage greater transparency, accountability and management of public finance; create positive competition between provinces; and ensure public trust in provincial public budget management.

At the index announcement ceremony, delegates recommended localities soon make public documents relating to the 2015 Law on State Budget and the 2016 Law on Information Access.

Also, they should also keep improving their performance in budget publication and provide email addresses for the public so that all citizens can join in the conversation and contribute to the public budget-building process.

Reporting by MINH LE - Translating by A.THU