HCM City will evaluate the competitiveness of 28 government departments and agencies for the 2024 Department and District Competitiveness Index (DDCI), an increase from 25 units assessed last year, as announced during a Monday conference.
This year, three additional entities— the City People’s Committee Office, the Department of Home Affairs, and the Market Management Department—will be included in the evaluation.
Speaking at the conference to launch this year’s survey, Hồ Thị Quyên, Deputy Director of the Investment and Trade Promotion Center (ITPC) of HCM City, said the survey aims to enhance administrative procedures, improve governance across departments and districts, and foster a transparent and conducive investment environment across sectors.
She noted that the assessment will largely follow last year’s framework but will include adjustments to better reflect current functions, responsibilities, and realities.
The survey will evaluate 28 departments and districts based on nine indicators, 38 general criteria, and 63 specific criteria tailored to individual units.
The indicators include transparency, access to information and digital transformation; unofficial costs; time efficiency for administrative procedures; fair competition; business support; legal frameworks; and the dynamism, creativity, and effectiveness of departments, divisions, and sectors.
The city’s 21 districts and Thủ Đức City will also be assessed based on 10 indicators, including land access and land-use stability.
The evaluation will incorporate the Green Index and the Health and Living Environment Indicator to promote sustainable development. By integrating environmental and health considerations into the evaluation framework, the city aims to protect the environment, improve quality of life, and build a green, eco-friendly economy, reflecting a balance between economic growth and environmental responsibility.
The survey will be conducted through both online questionnaires and direct interviews with businesses, cooperatives, and strategic investors. A response rate of at least 30% for both departments and districts will be ensured.
The survey results will undergo in-depth analysis, offering detailed evaluations and recommendations for high- and low-ranking units alike.
Quyên noted that preparations for the survey and evaluation are well underway, with results expected to be announced by the end of 2024.
To ensure transparency and objectivity, experts from business associations, research institutions, and universities have been invited to join the evaluation council.
She added that the findings will serve as a basis for the city to propose solutions to address issues and implement measures that better serve the public and businesses, thereby enhancing the investment climate.
During the conference, representatives of the business community expressed hope that evaluating the competitiveness of departments, agencies, and localities would lead to improved information transparency, more effective business support, and reduced time and informal costs.
They also emphasized the need to protect the confidentiality of corporate and individual information submitted by survey participants, ensuring objective and genuine feedback.
This would help avoid superficial or perfunctory assessments and overly lenient responses that fail to reflect reality accurately.
According to the evaluation council, the People’s Committee has a clear roadmap for implementing the 2024 DDCI and expects it to contribute positively to public administration reform and modernization.
This marks the third annual survey.
Last year’s results revealed improvements in most city departments and localities, reflecting a strong sense of responsibility and commitment to reform.
Some departments rose significantly in the rankings, while others saw declines, including some that had been highly ranked in 2022. However, these declines did not indicate a lack of capability or reform efforts but rather that their efforts fell short of surpassing others or meeting the rising expectations of the business community.
