Ho Chi Minh City aims to become a logistics center

On September 12, Saigon Port Joint Stock Company hosted the 30th Anniversary of the establishment and development of the Vietnam Seaports Association (VPA) and the 2024 VPA Annual Conference in Ho Chi Minh City.

Attending the ceremony were comrade Phan Van Mai, member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Secretary of the City Party Committee, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, and representatives of relevant units.

Comrade Phan Van Mai speaks at the event. Photo: HOANG HUNG

Chairman of the Vietnam Seaport Association Le Cong Minh said that the volume of goods passing through VPA seaports annually accounts for about 60% of general cargo, bulk cargo, liquid cargo and about 90% of container cargo of the whole country.

In the first 6 months of this year, the total volume of container cargo through VPA seaport increased by 25% over the same period. This year's growth is expected to be 15% - 20% better than in 2023, especially container cargo.

It is forecasted that by 2030, the volume of goods passing through the entire Vietnamese seaport system will increase by 1.6 - 2.1 times; by 2050 it will be 4.1 - 4.8 times higher than at present.

Regarding the orientation in 2025, Mr. Le Cong Minh said that in the coming time, the association will continue to strengthen the development of human resources for seaports; organize specialized seminars on port exploitation and development according to new trends, especially on digitalization and greening of seaports...

At the same time, VPA also has some recommendations such as: Innovating seaport development according to the trend of standardizing information infrastructure, digitizing, and greening seaports; Prioritizing investment in corridors and inter-regional transport infrastructure...

Speaking at the ceremony, comrade Phan Van Mai affirmed that Ho Chi Minh City has a favorable location and economic conditions, will be the largest logistics center of the country and has the capacity for international integration, which needs to be taken advantage of to continue developing.

In recent times, the Vietnam Seaport Association has made important contributions to policies and development strategies for Ho Chi Minh City, helping the city contribute a large proportion to the overall results of the Vietnamese seaport industry.

By 2030, Ho Chi Minh City will focus on implementing the Can Gio International Transit Port project in the Cai Mep - Thi Vai - Can Gio port cluster; continue to move internal ports outward, linking the development of Hiep Phuoc port urban area and ports on the Dong Nai and Saigon river systems.

In addition, to move towards the sea, the city will implement traffic projects connecting the ports of Ring Road 2 and Ring Road 3, and connecting highways. These projects will be completed before 2030.

The city is currently reviewing, supplementing and upgrading to become a large service center, including a center for logistics and finance. These are important orientations for the seaport economy.

Mr. Le Cong Minh, Chairman of Vietnam Seaport Association, spoke at the event. Photo: HOANG HUNG

In the development strategy, Ho Chi Minh City and the Southeast region connect the Mekong Delta to exploit advantages with the spirit of "sticking to the river, looking towards the sea".

The leaders of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee proposed that the Vietnam Seaport Association implement a mechanism for dialogue and policy strategies between Ho Chi Minh City and the broader Southeast region with the association and its members, so that development planning is closely linked to the association's trends and needs.

Comrade Phan Van Mai hopes to have comments and participation from the association as well as its members.

For seaport enterprises operating in Ho Chi Minh City, continue to exploit the potential advantages of Ho Chi Minh City and the Southeast region to further develop, commensurate with the region and the world; build port enterprises with the motto: modern, smart, green, connected and internationally integrated.

Vietnam Seaport Association was established in 1994 with 24 member ports.

Up to now, the association has gone through 30 years of formation and development, in 2024 VPA has 82 member ports operating nationwide.

The 30th anniversary of establishment and development is an opportunity for VPA and its members to look back on the journey they have taken as well as plan for future development.

HAI NGOC

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/tphcm-dinh-huong-tro-thanh-trung-tam-logistics-post758623.html