Transport Minister Dinh La Thang has asked concerned agencies toexpedite work on a major project to improve operational efficiency ofSeaport System No.5 to make it a regional entrepot in a near future.
 
The system covers all the ports in Ho Chi Minh City and the neighbouring provinces of Ba Ria-Vung Tau and Dong Nai.

The project, which has already been approved by the Government,includes upgrading the Cai Mep – Thi Vai Port in the southern provinceof Ba Ria-Vung Tau.

The aim of the project is to reduce andeventually stop the dependence on regional entrepot ports like Singaporeand Hong Kong to ship Vietnamese commodities to overseas markets, Thangsaid.

He noted that although several smaller ports under theCai Mep – Thi Vai Port are operational, commodities are still beingtransported to old seaports in downtown HCM City.

This washappening because no department or oganisation is directly responsiblefor managing and operating the shipment process, he added.

The original plan for the Cai Mep – Thi Vai Port was to reduce the use of seaports in downtown HCM City.

To deal with the current situation, the Transport Ministry hassuggested several measures including a moratorium, until 2015, onissuing licenses for new container ports for the entire system that alsohouses the Cai Mep – Thi Vai port.

New solutions will be proposed later for the 2015-2018 period.

In making its decision on the entire system, the ministry has said itwould also takeover decisions regarding the establishment and expansionof ports nationwide. It will take into account the actual need forseaports, the investment required as well as their suitability withland-use plans, the minister said.

At present, provinces andcities nationwide are allowed to decide on the construction ofinfrastructure projects in their respective localities.

Thangsaid his ministry will also try to increase the volume of importedproducts coming through the seaport system, especially through the CaiMep – Thi Vai Port, while limiting the number of foreign companies thatcan transport domestic goods to the port.

The ministry has, alongwith the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), proposed therevamping of the national seaport authority, giving it newresponsibilities and functions.

One major change would be togive the authority an investment management function, based on realmarket demand as well as the operational capacities of seaports.

The authority will be allowed to collect import and export taxes due on cargo shipments, saving companies a lot of time.

JICA, which has acted as a consultant for the system, has suggestedthe use of smaller ships or boats to transport goods from Ho Chi MinhCity to Cai Mep – Thi Vai in a short time to increase the volume ofgoods that the system handles.

Over the long term, roadconnections between the city and Cai Mep – Thi Vai have to be improvedand all port construction in the locality stopped, it has advised.

Attracting more industrial investment into Ba Ria – Vung Tau, wherethe Cai Mep – Thi Vai Port is located, should be another, it has said.

It has also proposed the establishment of a port authority at the soonest.

The Cai Mep – Thi Vai Port should work closely with cargo shipmentcompanies, and take measures to cut costs and increase shipments, JICAhas said.

It has said that the authority collaborates with otheragencies on the construction of inter-port roads, development oflogistics centres, and building more wharves in Mekong Delta provincesto attract more goods for to the nation's port system.

JICA even suggested that the authority pays to have boats transport goods from neighbouring provinces to the port.

The seaport system includes the Sai Gon, Nha Be, Cat Lai and HiepPhuoc ports in Ho Chi Minh City, including the Go Dau C, Phu My, CaiMep, Vung Tau and Song Dinh ports in Ba Ria – Vung Tau; and the Phu Huu,Ong Keo, Go Dau A, B and Phuoc An ports in Dong Nai.-VNA