FIATA World Congress 2025: Opportunity for Vietnamese logistics to accelerate global integration

(Chinhphu.vn) - By hosting the FIATA World Congress 2025 for the first time, Vietnam will affirm its role as a regional logistics hub. The event is an opportunity to promote digitalization, develop green logistics and implement the commitment to zero net emissions, in line with the Government's strategy.

The world's leading shipping lines such as Maersk are investing heavily in sustainability initiatives to move towards the net zero target, leading the trend of "greening" the maritime industry to minimize environmental impact - Photo: VGP/HT

Global Logistics: Digitalization and Greening Become Inevitable Trends

FIATA World Congress 2025, the world’s largest annual logistics event, will be held in Hanoi for the first time this coming October. This is an important milestone when Vietnam was chosen as the host country, demonstrating the international community’s confidence in the country’s logistics capacity and growing position.

With the theme "Green Logistics, Rapid Adaptation", the congress is expected to gather more than 1,000 delegates from 150 countries, including the world's leading transport and logistics corporations. The agenda focuses on discussions on digital transformation, green logistics, sustainable supply chain management and new international standards in the context of globalization.

In recent years, the international supply chain has faced many major fluctuations from geopolitical conflicts, energy crises to climate change. This shows that logistics is not only about optimizing costs but has become the "lifeblood" of global trade, requiring transparent standards, high adaptability and commitment to green development.

International experts affirm that technology is reshaping global logistics. The application of artificial intelligence (AI), big data, internet of things (IoT) and smart management platforms not only helps optimize operations, but also opens up the ability to forecast demand, analyze in real time and support quick decision making. This is the core trend promoting sustainable logistics development.

Vietnam's port enterprises are also pioneering digital transformation and green transformation according to the country's NetZero goals.

Challenges and determination from the Government

For Vietnam, hosting the FIATA World Congress 2025 opens up a great opportunity to affirm its logistics capacity in the global supply chain. Currently, Vietnam's logistics costs are estimated to still account for about 16-20% of GDP, higher than the world average. Meanwhile, the infrastructure system still depends heavily on roads, and has not yet fully exploited the potential of railways and waterways.

Mr. Takashi Kagamoto, General Director of Mitsubishi Estate Vietnam, said that Ho Chi Minh City and major import-export centers have a favorable foundation for strong logistics development. However, at the same time, risks from trade policies, climate change or international transport disruptions can create a big shock if the logistics system is not flexible enough. This assessment clearly shows that to catch up with the wave of global supply chain shifts, Vietnam needs to invest synchronously from connecting infrastructure, human resource quality to building a comprehensive digital ecosystem.

Sharing the same view, Mr. Truong Tan Loc, Marketing Director of Saigon Newport Corporation (SNP), affirmed that green logistics is no longer a story of social responsibility, but has become a "passport" for trade. Building a transparent, sustainable supply chain with low emissions is a sufficient condition for international buyers to choose Vietnamese enterprises.

The biggest challenge today is the over-reliance on roads and the problem of inadequate logistics infrastructure connectivity. To solve this problem, the SNP Representative believes that it is necessary to develop a common set of criteria to measure green logistics nationwide and breakthrough green financial policies. Along with that, the early completion of the legal corridor for the carbon credit market will create a new source of revenue for reinvestment in clean technology. In particular, the Vietnamese Government needs to accelerate the progress of key logistics infrastructure projects, prioritizing locations with the ability to connect multimodal transport.

Understanding this difficulty from the perspective of the management agency, Mr. Tran Thanh Hai, Deputy Director of the Import-Export Department, Ministry of Industry and Trade, said: Many important policies have been issued. Decision No. 876/QD-TTg approved the Action Program on green energy conversion, reducing carbon and methane emissions in transportation, towards the goal of net zero emissions by 2050. In parallel, the Vietnam Logistics Services Development Strategy for the period 2025-2035, with a vision to 2050, aims to improve competitiveness, develop sustainable, high-quality, efficient and high-value-added logistics.

The representative of the Ministry of Industry and Trade also emphasized the priority orientation: encouraging means of transport to use renewable energy, hydrogen, LNG; promoting the shift to waterways and railways; building smart warehouses; and developing the carbon credit market. These solutions will contribute to reducing emissions, optimizing costs, and at the same time creating resources for reinvestment in clean technology.

New generation free trade agreements such as CPTPP, EVFTA, UKVFTA have set increasingly high environmental standards. Therefore, green logistics is not only an integration requirement, but also an opportunity for Vietnam to affirm its position and enhance its reputation in the global supply chain.

Digital transformation and green development are becoming two inseparable pillars, a prerequisite for logistics to maintain its role as the lifeline of international trade and contribute to sustainable economic growth.

FIATA World Congress 2025 will include a number of thematic workshops, including a keynote session on “Digital Transformation and Innovation – Breakthroughs in Green and Sustainable Logistics Development”. The event will bring together leading shipping executives, international experts and policymakers to share strategic visions and propose solutions for the future of the global supply chain.

Vietnam’s hosting of the FIATA World Congress 2025 affirms its international prestige and opens up opportunities for direct access to knowledge, technology, and advanced management models. This is also an important time for the Government, businesses, and international organizations to cooperate and build new standards for modern logistics, linked to sustainable development goals.

Digital transformation and green development are therefore not only two parallel trends, but also strategic pillars to help Vietnamese logistics maintain its role as a vital artery of international trade, while making practical contributions to sustainable socio-economic growth.

FIATA World Congress 2025 in Hanoi will not only be a global event, but also a golden opportunity for Vietnamese logistics to accelerate integration, realize the NetZero 2050 vision and affirm its position in the region as well as in the world.

Mr. Minh

Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/fiata-world-congress-2025-co-hoi-de-logistics-viet-nam-tang-toc-hoi-nhap-toan-cau-102250917194744329.htm