USAID/VNCI II Monthly Report December 2012

The report focuses on the project's efforts to enhance Vietnam's competitiveness and improve the business environment. The Master Plan on Simplification of citizen-related Administrative Procedures and Electronic Database of Residents, a new reform initiative, was prepared by the Agency of Public Administration and Civil Service (APCA) with assistance from VNCI. The project aims to establish a single database of residents with citizen identity numbers, simplifying administrative procedures and reducing burdens for citizens. VNCI provided inputs, comments, and translation of an English booklet on Austrian e-government strategies and implementation to support the project. APCA's reform outreach efforts were also supported by VNCI. APCA team members attended the World Bank-International Finance Corporation (WB-IFC) workshop on sustainable reform in Singapore, where they shared Vietnam's reform program and planned collaboration with other participants. VNCI provided comments and inputs for APCA's 2013 budget and communication plans, as well as helped restructure the Advisory Council for Administrative Procedure Reform. The Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Project Support component of the report highlights VNCI's efforts to promote good governance through the PPP. The e-procurement project involved drafting an Information Memorandum and reviewing a Request for Proposal prepared by Ubitek, the e-GP's technical advisors. VNCI also recommended revising the assumptions on user demand and tariff structure to support a more conservative financial projection. In addition, VNCI consultants presented an assessment and recommendations on the Soc Trang's Water Treatment Plant expansion project to the PPA/PPP Office, recommending proceeding with a project proposal. The PPA/PPP office is determined to move this project forward quickly, with the bidding process expected to be in Q2-2013. The report also mentions the construction of the 2012 Private Sector Competitiveness Index (PCI), which was completed with rigorous checks. The PCI Index will be examined against the reality of business sentiment and governance initiatives in provinces to ensure its validity in the current business environment. Edmund Malesky, the PCI lead researcher, presented findings from the PCI 2012 survey data on policy risk and investor behavior at the Vietnam Business Forum on December 3, 2012. Furthermore, the report highlights VNCI's institutional support to the PPP Office, including drafting a TOR for a PPP study tour to Canada and meeting with the PPA to agree on the timing, participants, and tentative agenda for the study tour. The study tour is rescheduled from February 19-28, 2013. The report concludes with the announcement of a "PPP's in Infrastructure" Workshop held with the Ministry of Planning and Investment on December 28, 2012 in Hanoi. The workshop, attended by over 100 participants, focused on receiving stakeholder input on proposed changes to Decision 71 (PPP Pilot Project) and learning a "good practices" methodology for identifying PPP projects at the ASA level. Similar workshops will be held in Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City over the next two months.