Cai Cui seaport in Can Tho city is one of three ports in the Mekong Delta with a container service. (Source: vncontainers.com) HCM City (VNS/VNA) - The MekongDelta is a large agricultural exporter as well as goods and machinery importer,but logistics in the region has been insufficient to promote agriculturalproduction and exports.
“Import and export activities in the MekongDelta have been increasing thanks to international integration. The regionneeds a modern logistics system to reduce transport fees and increasecompetitive ability,” Nguyen Minh Toai, director of Can Tho City’s Industry andTrade Department recently told the Sai Gon Giai Phong (LiberatedSai Gon) newspaper.
Most of the delta’s exports must transit throughthe Southeastern region including Ho Chi Minh City and Ba Ria – Vung Tau province,leading to an additional 10 USD increase for each tonne of goods.
“The Mekong Delta is the key nationalagricultural region and plays a very important role in developing the nationaleconomy,” said Pham Anh Tuan, General Deputy Director of the Port Coast ConsultantJoint Stock Company.
“Logistics must improve to create favourableconditions for trade and increase competitive ability for regional agriculturalproducts,” he added.
Experts calculate that if the region reduces 1 percentof logistics expenditures each year, it could save around 2 trillion VND (87million USD).
The Delta uses four main types of transport:road, sea, domestic waterway and air.
At present, airline services are serving onlypassenger transport, while 85 percent of seaports in the region are small andserve only individual goods.
Of the total of 32 seaports in the region, onlysix of them have container loading services and three are located in Can Tho city.
In addition, many shipping companies do not wantto come to these seaports because they can only enter through small canals andcan only transport one way due to a lack of goods.
The road system is old and small and has noconnection between the main traffic system and regional production areas.
To improve the situation, the enterprisecommunity in the region has asked local authorities to open a cargo air routeto Can Tho International Airport, improve roads, and invest in a railway systemto the region.
“To develop logistics, authorities should createattractive investment policies along with better co-operation among customsoffices, stores and other services,” Nguyen Thanh Han, Director of GennuinePartner Group Company, said.
Recently, the Government and ministries agreedto build a second-level logistics centre in Cai Rang district in Can Tho cityon an area of 30 hectares by 2020 and 70 hectares by 2030 for Can Tho city andthe neighbouring provinces of Hau Giang, Kien Giang, An Giang, Soc Trang, TraVinh and Ca Mau.
At present, the Can Tho City Industry and TradeDepartment is building a master plan and is expected to announce investmentpolicies by the second quarter of this year.-VNS/VNA
VNA
