Quang Ninh ranks 13th nationally in 2024 FTA Index

The results of the 2024 FTA Index were officially announced by the Ministry of Industry and Trade, in collaboration with the Government Office at a ceremony held at the Government Headquarters. This pioneering index evaluates how effectively provinces and cities across Vietnam are implementing free trade agreements (FTAs).

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended the event and delivered a keynote address, underlining the growing importance of FTAs to Vietnam’s international economic integration.

Mr. Cao Tuong  Huy, Vice Chairman of the Quang Ninh Provincial People’s Committee, represented the province at the central event, while leaders of the relevant departments joined the ceremony via video conference.

The FTA Index, introduced for the first time in 2024, is a comprehensive, data-driven tool developed to measure FTA implementation at the local level. Based on nationwide surveys of businesses across 63 provinces and cities, the index provides a clear picture of how FTAs are being applied in practice.

Covering four core areas - communication and awareness of FTAs, implementation of legal provisions, competitiveness enhancement policies, and sustainable development commitments - the FTA Index aims to help both central and local governments identify challenges and tailor strategies to improve international trade outcomes.

During the ceremony, the Prime Minister presented Certificates of Merit to five provinces and cities for outstanding performance in the FTA Index. Additional recognitions were awarded by leaders of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Ministry of Home Affairs, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs to 8 provinces and cities with “Good” overall performance, 14 provinces with “Fair” results, and 4 localities that earned top marks in individual assessment categories.

Quang Ninh province earned a score of 30.53 points, placing it 13th among 63 provinces and cities nationwide. This result positions Quang Ninh in the “Fair” performance group, reflecting the province’s solid efforts in integrating FTA implementation into local governance and trade development strategies.

The event highlighted the Government’s ongoing commitment to leveraging FTAs as a critical engine of growth, with Prime Minister Chính calling on all provinces to build long-term integration plans and reduce administrative time and costs by at least 30% to foster a more dynamic business environment.

Speaking at the announcement ceremony, Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính underscored that FTAs have emerged as a pivotal mechanism for advancing trade exchanges among nations amid the accelerating pace of globalization and deepening international economic integration.

The Prime Minister affirmed that the Government is proactively engaging in negotiations with a wide range of countries and regions to diversify supply chains and broaden access to international export markets.

He further emphasized that, in assuming their respective responsibilities and mandates, local authorities must persist in fostering a spirit of self-reliance and resilience, develop comprehensive and long-term integration strategies, and prioritize reducing administrative procedures by at least 30% in both time and cost. These measures are essential to enhancing the investment climate and facilitating greater ease of doing business for both enterprises and citizens.