Northern Quang Ninh province leads localities across the country in the the provincial green index (PGI) and the provincial competitiveness index (PCI) in 2023, according to a report released recently by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI).

The is the second year the PGI index was published. It comprises four indicators: mitigating environmental pollution and natural disasters, ensuring the compliance of environmental standards, promoting green practices, and policies to encourage and support businesses in environmental protection.

This index evaluates and ranks provinces’ environmental policy from the perspective of businesses with the goal of promoting better business behavior and practices, including the application of new green technologies

Quang Ninh was followed by Da Nang, Hai Phong and Ho Chi Minh City in the PGI ranking.

Regarding the first indicator, 56.5% of the enterprises nationwide assessed that the environmental quality at localities is good or very good.

Meanwhile, nearly 73% of the enterprises agreed that local authorities have effective measures to prevent environmental pollution.

Concerning the indicator of promoting green practices, some 70% of the enterprises agreed that State agencies at localities give priority to purchasing products and services from businesses with green practices.

However, policies to encourage and support businesses in environmental protection are not popular. The PGI shows that an average of 33% of the surveyed enterprises that implement green practices get tax reduction or extension.

According to Professor Edmund J. Malesky, Lead Researcher of the PGI Initiative, suggested that apart from financial and technical assistance for localities to conduct green transition, it is also necessary to have motivation and mechanisms to encourage businesses to change production and trade models.