The new center, a public service unit under the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Office, is strategically located for accessibility. It is situated at 43 Nguyen Van Ba, Thu Duc ward, Thu Duc City, approximately 400 meters from Thu Duc station on metro line 1.

The center serves as a unified point for citizens and businesses to submit applications, receive processing, and collect results for various administrative procedures. According to the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee (HCMC PC), it coordinates with specialized agencies to resolve issues. Its scope extends beyond city departments, encompassing certain central agencies and vertical organizations, and even procedures falling under the jurisdiction of ward, commune, and special zone People's Committees. This operational model is independent of administrative boundaries.

Citizens processing procedures at the Ho Chi Minh City Public Administration Service Center on the morning of 31/12. *Photo: An Phuong*

Staffed by 61 specialized civil servants, the center can serve between 800 and 1,000 people simultaneously. Nguyen Tuan Anh directs the center. The facility is a two-story building designed for centralized reception of applications from 16 departments and related units.

The center's two floors are dedicated to different clusters of administrative services. The first floor handles procedures for the Departments of Construction, Food Safety, Home Affairs, Ethnic and Religious Affairs, Justice, Planning and Architecture, Tourism, Health, and Culture and Sports, along with the Export Processing and Industrial Zones Authority. The second floor processes applications for the Departments of Agriculture and Environment, Industry and Trade, Science and Technology, Finance, Education and Training, and Ho Chi Minh City Social Insurance.

To enhance accessibility and alleviate pressure on the central hub, the center operates an expansive service network. In addition to its main headquarters in Thu Duc City, it includes two bases in Binh Duong and Ba Ria - Vung Tau, complemented by 38 local units.

Administrative reform, particularly procedural streamlining, is a key priority for Ho Chi Minh City, according to Nguyen Manh Cuong, Vice Chairman of the HCMC People's Committee. Speaking at the launch ceremony, Cuong highlighted the city's long-term goal: 100% of administrative procedures will be independent of geographical boundaries and available online.

The establishment of the center represents a fundamental shift in the government's approach to public service. According to Cuong, this initiative moves beyond merely reorganizing the operational model; it signifies a transition from an "administrative" mindset to a "service-oriented" one. The core principle places citizens and businesses at the center, using their satisfaction as the primary measure of the state apparatus's performance quality.

Le Tuyet