Facing constraints related to geography, infrastructure, institutions and human resources - factors that have long placed Điện Biên at a disadvantage in attracting investment - the issuance and implementation of Resolution No. 12-NQ/TU dated July 29, 2021 by the provincial Party Committee on administrative reform and improving the business and investment environment, linked to enhancing provincial competitiveness, has been identified as a strategic breakthrough for economic development in the 2021-2025 period, with a vision to 2030.

To implement the resolution, the provincial People’s Committee issued Action Plan No. 3301/KH-UBND on October 5, 2021. Accordingly, Party committees, local authorities, agencies and units proactively adopted resolutions, plans and action programs to realize the resolution’s objectives. These efforts have yielded tangible results, with Điện Biên’s Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI) and Public Administration Reform Index (PAR Index) recording remarkable gains in national rankings.

The most notable progress has been seen in governance and administrative performance indicators. The Satisfaction Index of Public Administrative Services (SIPAS) has risen steadily, reaching 82.96% in 2024. During 2021-2023, the PAR Index consistently posted high scores, placing Điện Biên among the top-performing provinces in the northern mountainous region. In 2024, the province’s PCI reached 67.67 points - the highest score ever recorded - while its “market entry” sub-index ranked first nationwide.

These achievements stem from determined administrative reforms, including cutting the time required to issue business registration certificates from three working days to 1.5 days; reducing processing time for land-use right certificates and ownership certificates for houses and attached assets by 30%; and encouraging online submission, with 99.81% of applications filed and processed digitally. These results reflect a substantive shift in the working style of public officials, from a “licensing” mindset to a “service-oriented” approach. Each year, the provincial People’s Committee also hosts meetings with businesses and investors to assess conditions and resolve bottlenecks under state responsibility, helping accelerate project implementation.

Greater institutional openness and modernized administrative procedures have attracted major economic groups to explore and study investment opportunities in the province. Between 2021 and 2025, Điện Biên saw 769 newly established enterprises with total registered capital of VND 44,413 billion, alongside growing interest from large corporations.

Infrastructure development has also made strong strides in support of investment attraction. The upgrading and expansion of Điện Biên Airport, completion of key transport routes, and implementation of the “Brightening Điện Biên” program, bringing the national power grid to remote and border villages, have created a new development landscape and momentum. In 2025, GRDP growth is estimated at 7.34%; industrial output rose by 10.35%; total retail sales of goods and service revenue increased by 11.61%; State budget revenue is estimated at VND 2,282.5 billion, up 31.74% year-on-year; and the poverty rate fell to 17.66%.

Despite these gains, bottlenecks remain. Economic growth has yet to be fully sustainable; total social investment mobilization has fallen short of targets; disbursement of public investment, site clearance, and construction progress for several key projects, along with land-use right auctions and tenders, has lagged behind schedule; some investment projects have seen limited progress; policy implementation in certain areas has not met requirements; and administrative reform and digital transformation remain slow in some sectors.

To address these challenges, the province has outlined strategic goals and solutions for 2026 and beyond. Priorities include improving scores and rankings across PCI sub-indices and governance indicators; investing in synchronized, modern infrastructure; facilitating investor access to information and site selection; strengthening dialogue mechanisms with investors and the business community to promptly resolve difficulties during project implementation and business operations; and mobilizing and effectively utilizing ODA capital.

In terms of institutional and administrative reform, the province will continue reviewing and abolishing outdated regulations, particularly in land, planning, investment and construction. Administrative procedures will be handled regardless of administrative boundaries to better serve residents in remote areas. Resources will be focused on strategic infrastructure, notably accelerating the Sơn La-Điện Biên-Tây Trang Border Gate Expressway project and upgrading National Highways 12 and 279. The province has committed to creating “clean land banks” by publicly disclosing land price frameworks aligned with market levels to speed up site clearance and prepare for large-scale projects. Efforts will also be made to enhance the quality of the civil service and tighten administrative discipline under the “six clear principles”: clear responsibilities, tasks, accountability, authority, timelines and outcomes.

Rising growth figures and improved competitiveness rankings underscore that Điện Biên is on the right reform trajectory. To translate its potential and advantages into sustained economic strength, the province will require even stronger commitment from all levels and sectors, each public official, and close partnership with the business community.