Representatives from State departments and enterprise associations of provinces and cities in the Red River Delta shared their localities’ experiences in improving the business climate and provincial competitiveness index (PCI) at a meeting in Bac Ninh province on August 20. At the function, also drawing those from the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the US Agency for International Development, participants looked into high-interest matters such as the role of information transparency, associations and people-elected agencies in bettering the business environment. They also discussed administrative procedure reform, the responsibility of the heads of agencies in receiving and settling enterprise petitions, and localities’ responsibility in promoting the local business climate and national competitiveness. Vice Chairman of the Bac Ninh People’s Committee Nguyen Huu Thanh said the province has employed an array of measures like reforming administrative procedures, holding dialogues with companies and issuing support policies to create an open, transparent and attractive business environment. Bac Ninh was among the few localities sustaining high positions in the national PCI rankings for six straight years, he said, noting that it placed 10th in the 2014 list with 60.92 points. The province is currently the third biggest foreign investment destination in Vietnam with many global leading groups such as Samsung, Canon, Microsoft, PepsiCo and Sumitomo, the official added. Bac Ninh is located in the northern key economic region, which also comprises Hanoi, Hai Phong city and the provinces of Quang Ninh, Hai Duong, Hung Yen and Vinh Phuc.-VNA