Ms. Nguyen Minh Thao
Reporter: How does access-to-electricity index dramatically increased in recent years exert impact on the business environment of Viet Nam, Madam?
Ms. Nguyen Minh Thao: Reports made by Doing Business - The World Bank (WB) over the past years show that Viet Nam’s access-to-electricity index has increased from ranking at 156/189 countries in 2013 to 27/190 countries, economies in 2018. This is also the only index of Viet Nam continuously increasing in a sustainable manner. This index has made a very positive impact on the assessment of ranking Viet Nam’s business environment.
In addition, EVN is currently also the leading state-owned enterprise in reforming administrative procedures. The drastic guidance, management and implementation experience of EVN is very valuable for units and localities throughout the country to learn and make contribution to improving the business environment of Viet Nam.
Reporter: What do you think about the progressive development of EVN in improving electricity access index?
Ms. Nguyen Minh Thao: EVN is very proactive in participating in reforming administrative procedures. Since 2014, EVN has approached WB’s experts, learned about methodologies for assessing and identifying issues of Vietnamese Power sector and at the same time studied, learned about the world’s experience, practices, thereby providing specific and practical solutions.
Over the past 5 years, EVN has always been actively strengthened its connectivity with each industry, Ministry and locality to promptly handle procedures, shorten time as well as issues related to electricity access. At the same time, EVN has efficiently applied information technology, bringing transparency and utility in information to customers, striving to significantly improve the reliability of power supply. These reforms have been performed at each local Power unit, contributing to improve the quality of electricity services, which gains high satisfaction from power users and is highly appreciated by the world. Thus, the image of EVN in the social community has been improved, eliminating prejudices of monopoly in electricity, extreme sense, developing a corporate image of providing good services for the community.
Reporter: For five consecutive years, the access-to-electricity index has increased 129 levels. It is said that this is a luck, not completely objective. What is your opinion about this?
Ms. Nguyen Minh Thao: The business environment survey includes a access-to-electricity index independently conducted by Doing Business - WB without any relation to EVN or any other agencies and organizations in Viet Nam. This is the research method applied to 190 countries, economies in the world. Therefore, it can be said that the result provided of Doing Business Report is completely objective without any luck or advantage for EVN.
Looking back on EVN’s last five-year journey, it can be seen that the first few years (2014, 2015), the access-to-electricity index gained a rise, but not yet strong because EVN had just found its solution to improve this index. Then, thanks to the “momentum”, with a sound accumulation, the index attained a sharp increase. This is the result of such right direction and enduring effort made by EVN’s for 5 years.
Reporter: What do you think about the challenges and opportunities for Viet Nam to continue to improve its access-to-electricity index in the coming time?
Ms. Nguyen Minh Thao: Viet Nam’s access-to-electricity index is currently in top 30 in the world, top 4 ASEAN. This is a pretty high rank. Actually, it is very difficult to maintain this position because other countries and economies have continuously, strongly developed themselves, while the ground for increasing rank of EVN is becoming narrowed. However, for EVN, we always have an expectation on its score and ranking improvement. In my opinion, with the current reform
“momentum”, if EVN continues to improve the quality of electricity services, it will continue to be recognized by the community and the world.
Reporter: Thank you so much!
