Hanoi (VNA) –North-central localities are seeking ways to attract large cargo vessels so as to motivate the comprehensive growth of the logistics chain,contributing to boosting their socio-economic development.

According to analysts,the region is still weaker than others in terms of attractiveness to containerships

Vietnam has a considerable system of seaports from the north to the south, with many localities owning alarge number of seaports, including Hai Phong city with 50, BaRia-Vung Tau 45, and Ho Chi Minh City, 43.

However, despite a longcoastline, the north-central region from Thanh Hoa to Thua Thien-Hue provincesonly has 10 seaports, attracting few large vessels.

Experts held that theplanning for the upgrade and expansion of the regional seaport system has yetto receive adequate attention, making it difficult for large international vessels to dock in.

Meanwhile, the macroand micro policies for maritime economic development of regional localitieshave yet to be strong enough to boost the localities’ capacity in maritimetransportation. As a result, the region is lagging behind thenorthern and southern regions in the field.

In this context, manyregional localities are offering incentives to attractcontainer ships.

Ha Tinh province isproviding cash support to container ships and businesses transporting theirgoods with container ships through Vung Ang port. Similar incentives atdifferent levels have also been applied in Thanh Hoa and Thua Thien-Hueprovinces.

Many experts suggestedthat in order to attract container vessels, along with offering preferentialpolicies, the region should work to enhance the capacity of local logisticsfirms and their service quality.

At the same time, itis necessary to foster a linkage among logistics firms and between logisticsservice suppliers and users.

They also recommendedthat local logistics firms further expand their market, diversify theirservices and develop more added-value onces, while working to reduce costfor logistics activities./.