What is the source of goods for Cai Mep - Thi Vai port cluster?

Tan Cang-Cai Mep Port welcomes large container ships at the port.

At the workshop, port operators, importers and exporters said that in order for sustainable development of Cai Mep - Thi Vai port cluster, besides the development of logistics infrastructure, the seeking of goods source is necessary.

As the research unit of the project “Continuing to develop and modernize Cai Mep - Thi Vai international gateway port into the largest international transshipment port in the country and of stature in Asia and the world”, Mr. Pham Anh Tuan, General Director of Port - Marine Engineering Design Consulting Joint Stock Company (Portcoast) said that it is necessary to attract import and export goods from the offshore market.

According to Tuan, to do this, it is necessary to develop policies to encourage the transportation of imports and exports to Cai Mep to mother ships (from Binh Dinh onwards); implement 100% reduction of fees (tonnage fee, maritime safety fee) for feeder ships of import and export goods for transshipment at Cai Mep port.

At the same time, there is a mechanism to encourage domestic shipping companies to collect and distribute goods entering and exiting Cai Mep port. The Government and the Ministry regulate long-distance export containers as a transshipment port. Flexibly apply different container cargo handling service price frames for Thi Vai, Phu My, Cai Mep areas to ensure a transparent, healthy and equal competitive environment.

Mr. Nguyen Hong Phuc, Sales Director of Tan Cang-Cai Mep International Terminal (TCIT), said that TCIT has been invested in more equipment to meet increasing demand. TCIT's loading and unloading productivity reaches about 140 containers/hour and hit the record of 239 containers/ hour. With high loading and unloading capacity and modern machinery system, TCIT has attracted import and export goods with positive results, with the reception of many high-capacity ships.

Mr. Cao Hong Phong, Deputy General Director of Gemalink International Port, said that to boost goods across Cai Mep - Thi Vai port cluster, the goods source should be guaranteed. Phong said that the goods source across Cai Mep - Thi Vai port cluster comes from three sources: international transshipment, neighboring areas and local source.

For neighboring areas, the movement of goods should consider the overall national benefit, not just for Ba Ria-Vung Tau. For example, the transportation of goods from Ho Chi Minh City to Cai Mep - Thi Vai port cluster aims to reduce congestion in Ho Chi Minh City and ship goods towards the sea.

The independent source of goods in Ba Ria-Vung Tau from industrial parks, export processing zones and satellite businesses.

Officers of Cai Mep Customs Branch instruct procedures for enterprises. Photo: N.H

Regarding about solutions to attract goods sources, Mr. Phan Hoang Vu, Deputy General Director of SSIT, said that the implementation of Customs procedures is quite favorable and sees positive results. At the port cluster, two border gate customs branches and one customs branch for goods verification have been arranged to serve customs clearance of imports and exports. Most customs procedures are process online, saving costs and time for import-export businesses.

“The current problem is not from customs procedures but from creating goods sources: we must implement open ports and open free trade zones to attract goods sources... Regarding open ports, businesses hope to deploy open ports soon to move cargo among ports in the same area faster, without having to seal goods” - Mr. Phan Hoang Vu said.