President of FIATA works with Hai Phong City People's Committee to open up opportunities for logistics development

On the occasion of his visit to Vietnam and attending the annual series of important international conferences in the world logistics sector including FIATA RAP, AFFA Mid-Year Conference and UNESCAP Conference held in Da Nang from July 13 to 15, the President International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA) Ivan Petrov and FIATA General Manager Stéphane Graber, Federation Leaders, leaders of Vietnam Logistics Business Association (VLA) had a meeting and worked with leaders of Hai Phong city, Hai Phong Logistics Business Association and logistics enterprises of the city on the morning of July 12.

FIATA President Ivan Petrov and FIATA General Director Stéphane Graber, VLA leaders met and worked with leaders of Hai Phong City and logistics enterprises.

At the meeting, Mr. Hoang Minh Cuong, Vice Chairman of Hai Phong City People's Committee expressed his pleasure to welcome and affirmed that the city is very honored to be selected by the delegation as a place to visit because Hai Phong has strengths in ports marine and logistics. The city also considers it the most important focus of local economic development.

"Therefore, we believe that after the meeting, there will be activities to promote and strengthen the connection between Hai Phong with localities as well as with countries around the world", emphasized Mr. Hoang Minh Cuong.

Introducing some information about the economic development and logistics of Hai Phong, Mr. Cuong said that in 2022, the gross domestic product (GRDP) will increase by 12.32%, 1.5 times higher than the average. national army, belongs to the group of leading localities in the country in terms of economic growth. The basic economic indicators had growth over the same period: the index of industrial production (IIP) increased by 14.41%; state budget revenue in the area reached 109.226 billion VND; goods export turnover of the city's enterprises reached 28.86 billion USD; cargo volume through Hai Phong port reached 168 million tons; attracting foreign investment FDI reached 2.5 billion USD.

Mr. Hoang Minh Cuong, Vice Chairman of Hai Phong City People's Committee expressed his pleasure to welcome and affirmed that the city is honored to be selected by the delegation as a place to visit.

Following this growth momentum, in the first 6 months of 2023, the gross domestic product (GRDP) is estimated to increase by 9.94% over the same period, ranking third in the country; index of industrial production (IIP) increased by 12.28%; total export turnover of goods of the city's enterprises reached 13.36 billion USD; state budget revenue in the area reached 46,491 billion VND; cargo volume through Hai Phong port reached 69.1 million tons; Attracting foreign investment FDI reached 1.98 billion USD.

“One of the reasons for Hai Phong to have such a high growth rate is because Hai Phong is the only city in the Northern region that has all 5 modes of transport including road, rail, air, By sea and inland waterways the natural geographical conditions and seaport system are favorable for the development of the Logistics service industry and becoming the Logistics center of the Northern region", emphasized Mr. Hoang Minh Cuong.

Regarding the logistics service center, Vice President Hoang Minh Cuong said that Hai Phong has 4 logistics centers, including 22 already in operation: Green logistics center, Yusen Logistics logistics center (Dinh Vu Industrial Park). and 2 centers are under construction: CDC logistics center (Dinh Vu Industrial Park 2) and the center of Hai Phong International Gateway Port Industrial Park (Deep C III).

FIATA President Ivan Petrov said it was an honor to visit Vietnam and Hai Phong for the first time.

“The goal is that by 2025, the growth rate of logistics services will reach about 30% - 35%/year; the proportion of contribution to the city's GRDP is from 20% - 25%; the rate of outsourced logistics services is about 60%. By 2030, the growth rate of logistics services will reach about 30% - 35%/year, the proportion of contribution to the city's GRDP will be from 25% - 30%, the rate of outsourced logistics services will be about 65%. Cuong shared

At the same time, the city plans to have a total land area for logistics of about 2,061 hectares by 2025 and 2,156 hectares by 2030. Orientation to 2025 - 2030, Hai Phong plans 9 logistics centers.

Speaking at the meeting, FIATA President Ivan Petrov said it was an honor to visit Vietnam and Hai Phong city for the first time. “I first heard about Hai Phong city 5 years ago at a FIATA event in Istanbul from my friend Mr. Dao Trong Khoa. It is a pleasure to come here for the first time to see that Hai Phong is the gateway city of the Northern region of Vietnam with all 5 types of multimodal transport and a surprising contribution of 20-25% of GDP." Mr. Ivan Petrov shared.

As the world's largest organization for freight forwarding, formed 100 years ago with 150 member countries, of which VLA is a regular and active member, FIATA is expected to have many plans in the coming year, especially in Viet Nam.

“Right today, we will have a working schedule with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, then the Asia-Pacific Annual Conference series of the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations. (FIATA) and the Mid-year Conference of the ASEAN Freight Forwarders Federation (AFFA) in Ho Chi Minh City. Da Nang from July 13 to 15. In particular, there are activities to prepare for FWC 2025 to be held in Hanoi in 2025", FIATA President shared.

Emphasizing about FWC 2025, FIATA President affirmed that this will be an opportunity for Hai Phong city to introduce and promote the city's potentials and strengths to international partners and a great investment promotion opportunity. At the same time, we hope that Hai Phong will support BTC in sharing success stories about building a Logistics Center.

“I also hope that as a local government, HP will create conditions to improve transport infrastructure, including railways. Multimodal transport and seaport hubs will not be able to develop further if we do not improve the connection infrastructure”, affirmed the FIATA President. At the same time, the improvement of connection infrastructure is not only beneficial for Hai Phong, for Vietnam but also for connecting with neighboring countries.

Mr. Stéphane Graber, General Director of FIATA said that Hai Phong's advantage is multimodal transport, which will be a premise for further development.

“The connection between the seaport system and inland waterways is very important, this is also the challenge we have observed from major seaports around the world from the pandemic. In the current context we have to deal with decarbonization, railway infrastructure... For decarbonization in the logistics industry, digital transformation is very important. FIATA has expertise in digital transformation in the logistics industry, we are one of the members of the payment organization SWIFT. We represent 80% of the global logistics and transportation industry and thus contribute to important decisions”, emphasized the FIATA Executive Director.

At the same time, he also affirmed that the annual congress of FIATA 2025 in Hanoi capital will be an opportunity for Hai Phong city in particular and Vietnam in general to coordinate with VLA to solve two major issues of sustainable development such as non-profit development. carbonization and the promotion of digital transformation, FIATA will provide technical assistance and recommendations.

“We want to emphasize that our organization is a special economic , we are moving from de-globalization to re-globalization, Our President has initiative on globalization. We must increase resilience by rebuilding the global logistics system that has been severely affected by the pandemic. And Vietnam is showing that there are many opportunities in the diversification of supply chains and production chains in the coming years,” said Mr. Stéphane Graber.

Meanwhile, Mr. Le Duy Hiep, Chairman of Vietnam Logistics Association (VLA) expressed his pleasure and thanked the city for the warm welcome. As the national association representing the logistics business community in the country, VLA has turned 30 years old together with Hai Phong Logistics Association (HPLA) as an active partner member, which is typical of the establishment of the Association local logistics with the companionship of the National Association.

Mr. Hiep assessed, Hai Phong and Ho Chi Minh City with the advantage of a deep-sea port are attracting investors, especially in Lach Huyen area and opening up development opportunities, how can we develop multimodal transport? knowledge, develop connection infrastructure.

Besides the hard connection, the VLA President also recommended that there should be a soft connection, the soft connection here is a policy system to facilitate the development of logistics, export-Import industry.

"I was very impressed when I heard that logistics' contribution to the city's GRDP is over 20%, which shows the importance of the logistics sector to the development of Hai Phong's economy," said Mr. Le Duy Hiep confirmed.

Recommending the development of seaports, gateways and logistics centers of the region, VLA proposed Hai Phong to strengthen regional connectivity, and at the same time pay attention to developing inland waterways with localities with large FDI capital to connect with other provinces. connected to the sea port of Hai Phong.

“In Ho Chi Minh City today, the volume of goods transported by inland waterways between Ho Chi Minh City and localities such as Binh Duong, Binh Phuoc, Ba Ria Vung Tau is over 3 million teu/year, helping to reduce pressure on roads. and the cost is lower than by road”, shared VLA Chairman.

Another point mentioned by Mr. Hiep is air-cargo, according to which the city is not yet developed much but still depends on Noi Bai airport, the city needs to research and develop the construction of freight transport next to passengers at the airport. Cat Bi airport.

VLA also proposed the city support digitization in important information and logistics. VLA is trying to digitize all electronic documents such as bill of lading…

Sharing about FIATA RAP and FWC 2025 VLA leaders expect the local government and logistics business community to support and support the successful organization of the Conference.

From the perspective of the ASEAN Federation of Freight Forwarders (AFFA), Mr. Dao Trong Khoa, Vice President, shared that the story of the southern road transport route connecting the railway with China after 5 years is still just a "desire": “Meanwhile, last week, I had the opportunity to attend the Conference and inaugurate the railway connecting ASEAN and Europe through Chongqing with many goods from Thailand, Laos, Cambodia…and a few goods. of Vietnam. Therefore, I think railway development should be the top priority of the Government of Vietnam and Hai Phong to promote the role of the region's gateway game. Through FIATA, AFFA and VLA will connect Vietnamese businesses with partners in China like in Chongqing," Khoa emphasized.

At the same time, he said that AFFA currently focuses on sustainable development and digital transformation, it is expected that there will be a close distribution between the Federation, VLA and HPLA in this area.

Absorbing comments for the City, Absorbing comments for the City, Vice Chairman Hoang Minh Cuong said that the City is urgently submitting to the Prime Minister for approval the city's plan to turn Hai Phong into the Logistics Center of the region and the world. gender. Therefore, in planning issues, there will be many areas to be expanded such as Lach Huyen port, develop a second economic zone, develop more non-tariff zones, free trade zones, add Tien airport. Lang and new sea port. Vice Chairman Hoang Minh Cuong said the city is rushing to process the Prime Minister's approval of the city's plan to turn Hai Phong into the “Logistics Hub” of the region and the world. Therefore, in planning issues, there will be many areas to be expanded such as Lach Huyen port, develop a second economic zone, develop more non-tariff zones, free trade zones, add Tien Lang airport and new sea port.

The city is also promoting digital transformation in departments and businesses. The city assigned the Department of Industry and Trade to also build a foundation to connect departments in the field of logistics, including Customs, Taxes, businesses...

Vice Chairman of Hai Phong City People's Committee also affirmed that by the time of FWC 2025, Hai Phong has achieved breakthrough developments and can share success stories about local logistics development. At the same time, the city has sent representative departments to coordinate with FIATA and VLA in future connection activities.

On the same day, the FIATA President's delegation also visited and worked with Tan Cang - Hai Phong International Container Terminal (TC-HICT) and Transport and Mechanical Engineering Construction Joint Stock Company (HTM). Some photos recorded by reporter: