Portcoast accompanied state management agencies and enterprises at the seminar “Promoting the flow of import and export goods through the Cai Mep - Thi Vai port complex” held at the Ba Ria - Vung Tau Provincial Convention Center.

By tuoitre.vn - 31/07/2024

Attending the seminar were Mr. Le Ngoc Khanh - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, representatives of the General Department of Customs, various provincial departments, and local enterprises. Portcoast's CEO Pham Anh Tuan was honored to be the sole speaker presenting the report “Position, Role, and Solutions for Continuing Development and Modernization of the Cai Mep - Thi Vai International Gateway Port into an International Transshipment Hub” at the conference.

Cai Mep - Thi Vai Port has significant natural and infrastructural advantages, but these have not yet been fully utilized. What can be done to increase the volume of import-export goods passing through this port?

On the afternoon of July 31st, the People's Committee of Ba Ria - Vung Tau province and the General Department of Customs held a seminar titled "Promoting the flow of import-export goods through the Cai Mep - Thi Vai port cluster."

The opinions expressed at the seminar unanimously affirmed that Cai Mep - Thi Vai has natural advantages and is one of Vietnam's two special gateway ports. However, due to certain bottlenecks, Cai Mep - Thi Vai has not yet fully capitalized on its potential.

To remove these bottlenecks and promote the flow of import-export goods through Cai Mep - Thi Vai, the discussion highlighted the need for a comprehensive, simultaneous approach.

This includes infrastructure, personnel, mechanisms, and administrative procedures.

According to port enterprises, to attract import-export goods to the port, it is necessary to have a source of goods and create a stable supply base.

Mr. Pham Anh Tuan, General Director of Port and Maritime Engineering Consultant Joint Stock Company (Portcoast), stated that to create a source of import-export goods for Cai Mep - Thi Vai, it is essential to develop inland and coastal waterway systems. The goal is to transport goods from the Southeast and Southwest regions to the port. Simultaneously, the Bien Hoa - Vung Tau railway should be extended like the North-South railway.

Expert Do Thien Anh Tuan emphasized that Cai Mep - Thi Vai should not only serve Ba Ria - Vung Tau province but also the Southeast region, the South, and the entire country. "Framing the issue in this way involves the participation and role of ministries and the Government," said Mr. Tuan.

Regarding customs operations, there were suggestions that administrative procedures need to be more streamlined than in other regional countries to attract more goods. 

"Comparing customs procedures between Vietnam and Singapore, the regulations are not different, but Singapore's processing and clearance speed is extremely fast, making it very convenient for customs clearance," one opinion noted.

At the seminar, representatives from the General Department of Customs mentioned that in recent years, the sector has implemented electronic customs systems, including procedures, tax payments, certificates of origin, permits, and manifests. This facilitates businesses with green lane procedures taking only 3-5 seconds.

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Sang, Deputy Director of Ba Ria - Vung Tau Customs Department, stated that they always strive to avoid causing delays for businesses, ensuring goods and ships do not have to wait.

A port enterprise acknowledged that customs procedures have improved significantly and are more convenient. However, to make Cai Mep - Thi Vai a regional transshipment hub, it is necessary to have regulations that allow transshipment goods to remain sealed and independent transport declarations to attract transshipment cargo.

According to the delegates, infrastructure and connectivity bottlenecks will be resolved in the coming years when the Bien Hoa - Vung Tau expressway, Phuoc An bridge, Ho Chi Minh City Ring Road 4, and expressways like Ho Chi Minh City - Chon Thanh and Ho Chi Minh City - Moc Bai are completed.