- I would like to congratulate on the excellent work that has been carried out during the last ten years in relation to the PAR project, Ms. Ragnhild Dybdahl, Deputy Head of Mission at the Norwegian Embassy, said during her speech in Ninh Binh on October 4.
During the last ten years the Ninh Binh province has undergone a thorough public administration reform, as defined by the PAR project, largely funded by Norway. On October 3 and 4 the project's phase 2 was concluded, and the Norwegian Embassy travelled to Ninh Binh to participate in the end review and see the results first-hand.
One-stop shops
Ms Dybdahl and her colleagues from the Embassy got to see, amongst other things, how the "One-stop shops" had streamlined and uniformed the public bureaucracy's contact with people. Before the One-stop shops, a person would have to go to different offices to deal with different issues, like tax, social security etc. Now, with the PAR project and the designing of the One-stop shops, she could come to one office, submitting and requesting information on several public-service issues at once.
- I am very impressed with what I’ve seen, and especially that it has been focused on how to better serve people. You focus on the integrity of the civil servant in delivering the best service to people, and the progress that has been recorded and shared is significant, Ms. Dybdahl said to the representatives from the Ninh Binh province.
Proud friend for 40 years
Norway has been involved as a donor throughout the project, and according to Ms. Dybdahl, there is a sense of shared pride when looking at the results.
- Norway is very proud to be a part of this project, and we see it as a good example of the fine cooperation between Vietnam and Norway, which has been going on for 40 years, she said, drawing attention to the 40-year jubilee for diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Norway, which will be marked throughout the country in the end of November.
Ninh Binh is only one of several provinces that has implemented the PAR project, but it is one of the, if not the most, successful participants. Ms. Dybdahl highlighted Norway’s hopes that Ninh Binh can be a role-model for public administration reform. As an example of that potential, the Ninh Binh representatives informed the Norwegian delegation that the Kingdom of Bhutan had come to Ninh Binh to learn about the reform, how and why it had worked so well.
Still more work to do
Ms. Dybdahl also underlined the need to keep up the reform progress in coming years.
- In the next phase we encourage a stronger focus on ethnic minorities and disabled people, she said, before taking the time to praise the beautiful province of Ninh Binh.
- This is my first time in Ninh Binh, and it has been a truly wonderful experience. I will make it a priority to come back, and next time I will try to bring my family, to show them this beautiful province, Ms. Dybdahl concluded.