The volume of cargo handled through seaports across the country increased from 152 million tonnes in 2010 to 201 million tonnes in 2014, according to the Vietnam Seaports Association (VSA). During its eighth congress for the 2016-2020 period in Hanoi on October 15, the association said that its member businesses also increased from 54 to 68 over the past five years. VSA President Le Cong Minh said thanks to a spectrum of renovations in line with the country’s international economic integration policies, the seaport sector attracted the participation of more economic sectors. Deep-water ports in the Cai Mep-Thi Vai port complex in the southern coastal province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau have been formed with Japan’s official development assistance, opening up opportunities for the sector to provide international standard services. Other ports have also revamped their management mechanisms and sought to increase productivity and service quality to meet the market’s increasing demands, he said. However, bottlenecks still remained such as the lack of involvement of all members in handling emerging issues, the congress heard. The association devised orientations and activities for 2016, including expanding membership and improving managerial and administrative capacity and personnel training. At the same time, the association will team up with competent agencies in making the seaport service market transparent, ensuring a healthy and open competitiveness environment.-VNA