Ministry of Industry and Trade reports to Prime Minister to propose importing sand from Cambodia

TPO - The Ministry of Industry and Trade has just reported to Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha about the possibility of importing construction sand from Cambodia. According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Cambodia said it is ready to issue certificates of origin for sand purchased in Cambodia to minimize fraud and smuggling.

According to the report of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, implementing the direction of the Government leaders, from May 13-16, the working delegation of the Ministry, with the participation of representatives of the Ministry of Transport, conducted a field survey on the import of construction sand from Cambodia to Vietnam.

Through working with the Ministry of Mines and Energy and the Ministry of Economy and Finance (Cambodia), the Ministry of Industry and Trade found that Cambodia's sand reserves for filling and construction can provide enough for the immediate and long-term needs of the southern provinces of Vietnam.

Accordingly, Cambodia is currently exporting about 50,000 - 60,000 m3 of sand to Vietnam every day. The Cambodian government advocates a free market, does not interfere with prices and only manages to ensure that the exploitation, transportation and export of sand are carried out in accordance with the license and that taxes are fully paid to the State.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade recommends that the Government leaders consider and assign the Ministry of Transport to preside over and coordinate with ministries and branches to review and grasp the total demand and quantity of sand to be purchased by enterprises and construction contractors, and proactively work with Cambodian enterprises to negotiate sand purchase contracts in accordance with the regulations of the two countries.

According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Cambodia is ready to issue certificates of origin for purchased sand.

It is known that Cambodia has only granted licenses to exploit and export sand to 3 domestic companies (no mining licenses are granted to foreign companies). Of which, Chaktomuk Cambodia Company is exporting about 40,000 to 60,000 m3 of sand per day to about 15-20 Vietnamese companies. Sok Theara Company owns sand mine reserves of about 200 million m3 but has not yet exported sand to Vietnam. Global Green Energy Company is supplying about 10,000 m3/day to 2-3 Vietnamese companies.

According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Cambodia said it is ready to issue certificates of origin for sand purchased in Cambodia to minimize fraud and smuggling.

In early April, in Ho Chi Minh City, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha chaired a working session with relevant ministries, sectors and provinces and cities on the situation of sand materials for the Ho Chi Minh City Ring Road 3 project.

At the meeting, the Ministry of Transport said that in the 2021-2025 period, the Mekong Delta and Southeast regions will implement 21 expressway projects and key transport component projects. The total demand for roadbed materials for the above projects is approximately 77 million m3. Of which, the amount of fill soil is approximately 7 million m3 and the amount of sand is approximately 70 million m3.

According to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the demand for sand as embankment material for Ho Chi Minh City's Ring Road 3 is about 9.3 million m3, of which about 6 million m3 in 2024 alone. Currently, the volume of sand from domestic mines committed to supply for the Ho Chi Minh City Ring Road 3 project is about 7 million m3, with a shortage of about 2.3 million m3.

According to the report of the Ho Chi Minh City Real Estate Association, Cambodia is currently willing to export sand to Vietnam with a reserve of about 100 million m3, exploitation time is 1 year. Therefore, the Deputy Prime Minister requested the Ministry of Industry and Trade to report the results of research and negotiations on importing construction sand and embankment sand from the neighboring country for consideration and decision.

The shortage of sand for key projects has been repeatedly mentioned in recent years. In 2017, facing the shortage of construction sand, the Ministry of Construction also continuously sent official dispatches to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to give their opinions on importing construction sand to reduce the pressure on balancing domestic supply and demand.

Pham Tuyen

Source: https://tienphong.vn/bo-cong-thuong-bao-cao-thu-tuong-de-xuat-nhap-khau-cat-campuchia-post1647066.tpo