New Ho Chi Minh City needs 'one planning, one border gate' to break through logistics services

The formation of a “new Ho Chi Minh City” by merging with Binh Duong and Ba Ria - Vung Tau opens up great advantages in industry, services and logistics, but also requires comprehensive re-planning.

Mr. Cao Hong Phong, Chairman of HH Logistics and Seaport of Ba Ria - Vung Tau , said that it is necessary to quickly adjust planning and reduce logistics costs - Photo: THANH HIEP

At the seminar "Developing trade and logistics in Ho Chi Minh City" held on September 11, experts and businesses said that the city needs to soon develop a unified plan, establish a "one border gate - one logistics map" mechanism to reduce costs, avoid overlap and maximize the strengths of each locality.

Cooperation between businesses, especially in the export sector, is considered a decisive factor for Ho Chi Minh City to break through to become the leading logistics and trade center in the region.

The seminar "Developing trade and logistics in Ho Chi Minh City" was organized by Tuoi Tre newspaper in collaboration with the Department of Industry and Trade of Ho Chi Minh City and UEH.ISB Talent School, part of the series of activities of "Forum for giving advice on developing industry and trade in Ho Chi Minh City".

The key to reducing logistics costs for the new Ho Chi Minh City

Mr. Cao Hong Phong, Deputy General Director of Gemalink - Chairman of the Logistics and Seaport Association of Ba Ria - Vung Tau, commented that the advantage of new space of Ho Chi Minh City is indisputable, but there are also some points that need to be considered according to the new development trend.

"The first thing that should be done and must be done is to study and adjust the planning. Previously, all three localities developed separately, but now they must re-plan, to enhance the advantages of each area before. Thereby, the new Ho Chi Minh City will include the strengths of Binh Duong and Ba Ria - Vung Tau," Mr. Phong suggested.

Specifically, according to Mr. Phong, logistics can be divided into two segments: domestic and export. In which, the old Ho Chi Minh City develops domestic trade and services, which means focusing on solving policy problems, investing in equipment, and connecting infrastructure. Ba Ria - Vung Tau will focus on export logistics, which means developing seaports in this locality.

The organizers presented souvenir trees to the delegates participating in the discussion - Photo: THANH HIEP

Binh Duong focuses on production. Along with the seaport planning, warehouses serving logistics centers are re-planned in a new, more open space...

Besides, Mr. Phong also believes that we should not develop independently in the way that each enterprise does it by itself, but should cooperate with each other, thereby helping to reduce domestic and export logistics costs.

Citing an example, the Chairman of the Ba Ria - Vung Tau Logistics and Seaport Association said that in processing wood export orders to the US, many businesses had to wait in long lines to export before the US applied the new tax rate. At that time, if businesses did not cooperate and support each other to speed up the export process in time, it would cause great damage to domestic businesses.

Giving further comments on the planning, Mr. Phong said that currently, in terms of border gates, Ho Chi Minh City and Ba Ria - Vung Tau have different border gates. Goods going through Ho Chi Minh City and then to Ba Ria - Vung Tau must go through two different border gates even though they are in the same new city.

"The new Ho Chi Minh City should have only one border gate name for all import and export gates at ports in the new Ho Chi Minh City. That is the unification of a new Ho Chi Minh City center, and also a way to save logistics costs and operating costs for businesses in the field," Mr. Phong stated.

Retailers want to tap the market after 10 p.m.

According to retailers, Ho Chi Minh City needs to have a stronger movement with the night economy . This excitement not only expands shopping and entertainment services for people but also creates unique tourism products, contributing to affirming Ho Chi Minh City as a commercial center operating 24/7.

Currently, Lotte Mart's import and online operations are strictly controlled. For imported goods, the company works directly with foreign suppliers, fully complying with inspection, quality and logistics regulations; domestic goods must also meet standards before being displayed in supermarkets or put on online channels, ensuring a consistent shopping experience.

At the same time, Lotte Mart promotes the "shopping combined with entertainment" model when most supermarkets integrate cinemas, entertainment areas, food courts and open until 10-11pm.

In other retail sectors, Bach Hoa Xanh said that its nighttime operations mainly serve logistics and supply to maintain its daytime retail chain. SATRA considers the "night economy" a major source of revenue, taking advantage of Binh Dien wholesale market, where transactions are mainly conducted at night.

This enterprise is preparing a more modern Binh Dien 2 project, which not only meets distribution needs but also aims to become a night tourism destination. SATRA believes that developing the night economy not only serves domestic consumption but also creates unique tourism products, promoting Ho Chi Minh City as a bustling commercial center both day and night.

Logistics costs account for about 17% of the cost price, a "bottleneck" that needs to be resolved immediately.

Mr. Nguyen Nguyen Phuong - Deputy Director of the Department of Industry and Trade of Ho Chi Minh City - acknowledged that the city needs an elite working group including experts, departments, and associations to review, prioritize, and propose breakthrough solutions - Photo: THANH HIEP

Mr. Nguyen Nguyen Phuong, Deputy Director of the Department of Industry and Trade of Ho Chi Minh City, said that with many expert opinions, the organizing committee collected more multi-dimensional and practical perspectives to serve the forum.

The forum originated from the initiative of the Department of Industry and Trade of the City after organizing two seminars on trade and industry. It is expected that a conference will soon be held to report to the leaders of Ho Chi Minh City on suggestions and solutions to help the City develop breakthroughs in the future.

"I imagine the process of giving solutions and advice to Ho Chi Minh City is like a football team about to enter an important match. To ensure the team's success, there must be no weak players, and there must be stars. Ho Chi Minh City is like a machine with a large capacity but the motor is not suitable for the capacity, only meeting 50%; after the merger, Ho Chi Minh City replaced the motor with a capacity twice as large but the operation is not twice as large because the belt cannot pull a large capacity, it is only used to pulling a small amount of effort," Mr. Phuong likened.

According to the leader of the City Department of Industry and Trade, the current cost of logistics is 17%, which is unacceptable. We have been struggling for so many years and are exhausted. Whatever we do, we must choose the bottleneck and the bottleneck to focus on solving it first; find something good, something strong that businesses can break through to invest, how to invest 1 and get 3, 4. If we spread it out, it will not work, it will not be effective because our resources are limited.

The leadership cannot solve all the problems, so it is necessary to establish a working group, mobilizing outstanding figures from departments, associations, and experts to listen, review bottlenecks, calculate priorities, and then come up with solutions.

"It is necessary to identify and show how to do it and how to do it. After gathering experts' opinions, we are confident to make recommendations and advise the city's leaders to come up with breakthrough solutions. Logistics is both a bottleneck and a great opportunity for the new Ho Chi Minh City. The important thing is the way of thinking," Mr. Phuong acknowledged.

Many worries surround Ho Chi Minh City businesses

Sharing more about the business situation in Ho Chi Minh City, Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Hoa - Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Business Association - said that the picture of the city's business community in the first 9 months of the year was very concerned about exports and US tax rates. If the US imposes a 20% reciprocal tax, how will exports be when there are countries competing with us that have tax rates 1-2% lower?

"If we know how to organize and reorganize, we can compete," he said.

The path to competitiveness has two important things to do: reduce logistics costs and increase the application of smart technology in management and production to reduce costs and increase connectivity. Enterprises focusing on year-end production should review export contracts, while in the domestic market, purchasing power in Ho Chi Minh City is still at an average level, with no signs of improvement.

The common concern of the business community and people is that the two-level government needs to quickly promote and put the apparatus into operation quickly and effectively to promptly support the activities of people and businesses.

"All state agencies are making efforts, taking part responsibly and determinedly, but we cannot achieve our expectations overnight, because the agencies themselves have to organize and rearrange many things. In addition, there are influences and concerns about the inflation situation, exchange rate developments...", Mr. Hoa shared.

Tuoi Tre Newspaper in coordination with the Department of Industry and Trade of Ho Chi Minh City opened the forum "Providing advice for developing industry and trade in Ho Chi Minh City".

To listen to ideas and solutions from businesses, researchers and people to build and develop industry and trade for the new Ho Chi Minh City, forming a strong urban area in industry, trade and services, with international competitiveness.

Readers can send information to the editorial office of Tuoi Tre newspaper (60A Hoang Van Thu, Duc Nhuan ward, Ho Chi Minh City) or email: kinhte@tuoitre.com.vn.

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/tp-hcm-moi-can-mot-quy-hoach-mot-cua-khau-de-but-pha-dich-vu-logistics-20250911191942298.htm