Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnamwill need about 313 trillion VND (13.7 billion USD) to develop a modern seaportsystem between now and 2030, and the funding will mostly come from non-budgetsources.

During 2011 - 2020, about 202trillion VND was poured into developing seaport infrastructure, accounting for20.6 percent of total investment in transport infrastructure.

Of the figure, more than 173trillion VND, or 86 percent, was non-State budget capital, according to theVietnam Maritime Administration.

Many of the world’s leading maritimetransport and seaport operating enterprises have been present in the country.

Among them, the Danish groupof APMT, the world’s second largest seaport operator, has invested in the CaiMep International Terminal in Ba Ria - Vung Tau province; the UAE’s DP World,the fifth largest operator, has invested and operated the Saigon PremierContainer Terminal in Ho Chi Minh City; and SSA Marine of the US, ranking ninth,has channeled funding into the SP-SSA International Terminal in Ba Ria - VungTau.

Thanks to private and foreigninvestment, the seaport system in Vietnam has enjoyed breakthrough growth.

The country has established32 sea lanes, including 25 international shipping routes and seven domesticones. Apart from the routes linking with Asian destinations, there are tworoutes to North America from the northern region and 16 others to North Americaand Europe from southern Vietnam, the Maritime Administration said.

The master plan for seaport developmentduring 2021 - 2030, recently approved by the Prime Minister, looks to develop amodern seaport system with high-quality services meeting socio-economicdevelopment demand and able to handle 1.14 - 1.42 billion tonnes of cargo,including 38 - 47 million TEUs of container goods.

To that end, about 313trillion VND is needed, mostly from non-budget sources, enterprises’investment, and other legal sources. Meanwhile, funding from the State budgetwill focus on public maritime infrastructure and key zones so as to give aboost to investment attraction, the administration noted.

Some economic experts heldthat to have a modern seaport system that is able to compete with others in regionalcountries, aside from existing investment forms, Vietnam should have representativeagencies of the State like port management boards or authorities to mobiliseresources for building ports and inviting tenders for port operation./.