On March 22, USAID and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) released the annual PCI report. About 800 participants attended the launch, including  senior officials from nearly all 63 provinces. This year, Quang Ninh province was crowned the top performer for the first time ever, followed by Da Nang (the winner for the past four years) and Dong Thap. The median PCI score this year was 62.2, increasing by a remarkable 4.2 points compared to 2016. The median PCI score (58) didn’t change from 2015 to 2016. 

The PCI Report provides an independent, unbiased view on the provincial business environment by surveying over 12,000 firms on a variety of business issues. The report actively promotes dialogue between local government officials and the business community. The 2017 PCI Report highlighted three important trends: economic governance continues to improve over time at the provincial level; businesses are showing increasing optimism about the Vietnamese economy; and perceptions about the prevalence of corruption show some improvements.  

So What? USAID’s PCI activity continues to be an important driver of economic reform in Vietnam, which contributes to improved economic governance at the provincial level, leading to strong investment and economic growth in Vietnam. [To view the 2017 PCI Report, visit: http://eng.pcivietnam.org/]