On the morning of 1/10, during a meeting with businesses and investors, Nguyen Duc Tam, Chairman of the Quang Ngai Provincial People's Committee, repeatedly apologized on behalf of the province for slow processing of documents, which caused investors to miss opportunities. He affirmed that 1/10 marked "a new chapter" for the business community.

Chairman Nguyen Duc Tam's commitment comes as Quang Ngai province's Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI) fell into the low-ranking group last year. Businesses have faced prolonged difficulties concerning land and investment procedures.

"I do not accept answers like 'under review', 'will coordinate', 'continue to scrutinize' without accountability, a clear solution, or a deadline", he emphasized. For each issue, it must be clearly defined who is responsible, what needs to be done, and when it will be completed.

According to provincial data, growth for the nine months reached 9,16%. However, Chairman Tam noted that businesses, crucial contributors to this growth, "cannot expand if a land record has to wait three years".

The meeting recorded 35 recommendations from 16 businesses and business groups. Approximately half of these were long-standing issues, some dating back to 2017 and 2018, revolving around land, taxes, compensation - resettlement, and construction materials. Since the beginning of the year, the province has monitored 149 recommendations from 56 businesses; 83 issues (56%) have been resolved, while 66 issues remain problematic, primarily concerning land and site clearance.

Nguyen Duc Tam, Chairman of Quang Ngai Provincial People's Committee, pledges to improve the investment environment. *Photo: Pham Linh*

Businesses highlighted difficulties concentrated in land, site clearance, and financial obligations. Regarding legal land records, businesses faced three issues: land use purpose not matching reality, inaccurate area and boundaries, and historical records spanning multiple periods. Resolving these land issues often involved documents circulating through many departments, forcing investors to make repeated trips. Businesses suggested the province establish an inter-agency task force, with a responsible leader, clear decision-making authority, and specific deadlines to reduce repeated trips for businesses.

Chairman Nguyen Duc Tam assessed that most difficulties stem not from laws but from coordination methods. Land records with historical elements circulated among many agencies, with no one taking ultimate responsibility. Furthermore, some records, after administrative unit reorganization, have not been fully received by communes, and there is insufficient personnel for compensation and site clearance. He stressed that this is the responsibility of state management agencies, not investors.

A representative suggests the province establish a task force to resolve business issues. *Photo: Pham Linh*

Regarding financial obligations, Central Petrochemical Bio-Fuel Joint Stock Company (BSR-BF) requested resolving the deduction of compensation and site clearance costs from land lease fees. 24/3 Agriculture and Forestry Joint Stock Company proposed reviewing financial obligations for leased areas not yet handed over. MD Company requested addressing long-standing issues with its waste treatment project, including land, land lease term, and financial obligations.

In the area of site clearance, Hoa Phat Dung Quat Steel Joint Stock Company reported that Complex 2 and auxiliary projects faced difficulties due to re-encroachment. The business recommended increasing personnel, supporting forced eviction when necessary, promptly approving resettlement plans, allowing expansion of an additional 76,93 hectares, and applying a 'green channel' mechanism to cut about 50% of processing time.

In response to these recommendations, Chairman Tam instructed departments, agencies, and localities to address them at three levels. Issues with sufficient grounds should be resolved immediately with a deadline. Issues requiring coordination should identify the lead agency and a deadline. Issues beyond authority should clearly state the reason so businesses do not have to wait. If a recommendation is not completed by its deadline, the department director or chairman of the communal/ward People's Committee must directly report the reason.

To prevent businesses from submitting recommendations multiple times, departments must respond within seven days of the meeting. The Provincial People's Committee Office will coordinate with the Investment, Trade, and Tourism Promotion Center to develop regulations based on the 'single point of contact, single deadline' principle, where businesses submit recommendations to one place. Local leaders, departments, and agencies will hold quarterly dialogues with businesses.

Businesses working with the Quang Ngai Provincial People's Committee, morning of 1/10. *Photo: Pham Linh*

Concluding the meeting, Chairman Tam thanked businesses for speaking frankly, including sharp criticisms. He committed that the government would "go from start to finish" with investors, and the tangible outcome of the meeting would be a directive issued within one week, with clear resolution deadlines.

He stated that the government must foster development, prioritizing business satisfaction, because building a developed province is the aspiration of businesses and the wish of Quang Ngai residents. He hopes the business community will trust and invest, especially those from Quang Ngai.

"I commit that when the children of Quang Ngai return home to invest, you will see that Quang Ngai's investment environment will change, and we are determined to achieve this", Nguyen Duc Tam said.

Pham Linh