HCM City leverages port growth for logistics boom

Businesses and experts anticipate that Ho Chi Minh City will invest heavily in infrastructure and expedite the development of super-sized transshipment ports, like the Can Gio Port, to attract cargo from numerous nations.

Mr. Huynh Vi Phuc, General Director of the A My Transports and Services Corp., made the statement at the 22nd Annual Membership Conference of the Worldwide Project Consortium (WWPC).

The conference, held for the first time in Vietnam from November 11-13, attracted hundreds of experts and businesses from 60 countries involved in freight forwarding, maritime transportation, and oversized and heavy cargo.

Mr. Phuc asserted that Vietnamese seaports are fully capable of competing for oversized and heavy cargo with other regional players like Singapore and Indonesia in the future.

He added that the Vietnamese Government is continuously reforming and simplifying import-export procedures to attract investment. Additionally, numerous port infrastructure projects are garnering interest from major shipping companies like BBC Chartering Wallenius Wilhelmsen and Air Canada Cargo.

WWPC assesses that Vietnam currently enjoys favorable political and economic conditions, competitive production costs, and a young workforce, attracting global interest across various sectors such as renewable energy, technology, and electric vehicles. This presents a significant opportunity for logistics development.

According to WWPC, Vietnam boasts numerous advantages and potential for maritime transportation development, particularly for oversized and heavy cargo. Geographically, Ho Chi Minh City, and Vietnam as a whole, hold an advantageous position as a cargo transshipment hub from various regions, making it suitable for oversized and heavy cargo weighing up to thousands of tons.

Mr. Wolfgang Karau, WWPC President, emphasized that the annual conference rotates locations, and this year, being held in Vietnam for the first time, will showcase the growth and investment opportunities in oversized and heavy cargo transportation in Vietnam. Vietnam is actively developing and planning the construction of numerous international-standard seaports. Moreover, infrastructure investments are meeting the demand for transporting large cargo shipments to serve the industrial sector.

Speaking at the conference, Ms. Tran Thi Hai Yen, Director of the Southern Investment Promotion Center, at the Foreign Investment Agency (the Ministry of Planning and Investment), highlighted the conference as a crucial opportunity for Ho Chi Minh City and neighboring localities to promote their investment environment, attracting leading international logistics companies to invest in Vietnam.

In recent years, the Vietnamese government, Ho Chi Minh City, and provinces like Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Binh Duong, and Dong Nai have prioritized investment and development of strong port infrastructure. This strategy will attract cargo and investment from global businesses, propelling logistics growth and expanding its reach.