North Central and Central Coast regions: Identifying growth momentum

On August 22, in Hue city, Business Forum Magazine and Vietnam Logistics Services Association (VLA) coordinated with relevant units to organize the 6th Regional Logistics Forum "Cross-border logistics - growth momentum in the North Central and Central Coast regions".

Speakers discuss at the forum. Photo: THANH LAN

According to Deputy Head of the Central Policy and Strategy Committee Nguyen Duc Hien: The theme of this year's regional logistics forum has special significance, demonstrating practicality and timeliness in closely following the important orientations and strategies of the Party and State on regional development and the national logistics industry.

At the same time, it is emphasized that the North Central and Central Coast regions have a particularly important geographical position, being a strategic bridge between the North and South, facing the East Sea and the nearest gateway to the East-West economic corridor. In order to create a breakthrough development for the region, the Party and the State have issued many important policies and guidelines demonstrating strategic vision and strong political determination.

Promoting cross-border logistics

Mr. Nguyen Duc Hien, Deputy Head of the Central Policy and Strategy Committee, shared that in the context of the global supply chain being strongly restructured, cross-border logistics is an important bridge to open up the flow of goods, shorten the time and cost of trade, expand the market, and improve the competitiveness of the economy . Therefore, it is impossible to talk about e-commerce, digital transformation or green growth if logistics cannot keep up...

In particular, for the North Central and Central Coast regions, where many deep-water ports, international airports, international border gates and coastal industrial park systems converge, cross-border logistics is the main driving force to turn the region into a hub connecting the ASEAN regional supply chain and for the extended Mekong sub-region, and further to the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean .

According to Vice President of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) Hoang Quang Phong, with the integration trend, international trade will increasingly develop, while the world is facing many global problems that no single country can solve. In that context, logistics is increasingly becoming the trump card to improve the competitiveness of each country.

Delegates attending the forum. Photo: THANH LAN

Mr. Phong said that the new era of national development, along with the promotion of exploitation of marine space, underground space, outer space, digital transformation, green transformation and three strategic breakthroughs in institutions, infrastructure and human resources, poses new requirements and at the same time creates conditions to promote the logistics industry.

Speaking at the forum, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan said that the North Central and Central Coast regions possess a special geographical location that is rare elsewhere. This is the connecting section between the two largest growth poles of the country - the North and the South - through the national highway, railway, sea and air systems. At the same time, it is an important bridge in international economic exchange, a transit point for goods with the Central Highlands provinces and the most convenient gateway to the sea for localities in the Southern Laos, Northeast Thailand and Northeast Cambodia through the East - West economic corridor.

“It is this location that has made the North Central and Central Coast regions become a “convergence point” of goods: from raw materials, agricultural products, minerals to processed and manufactured industrial goods…, not only serving the domestic market but also exporting and importing to neighboring economies and beyond. Cross-border logistics is therefore a “strategic lever” to open up and increase the value of the entire regional supply chain.

I believe that, with political determination, the support of businesses, investors and the international community, the momentum from cross-border logistics will help the North Central and Central Coast regions grow strongly, making a worthy contribution to the overall growth of the country," Deputy Minister Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan shared.

Connecting businesses - investors - management agencies

Mr. Nguyen Duy Minh, Vice President of the Vietnam Logistics Business Association (VLA), emphasized the importance of developing new-generation transport corridors and awakening the potential for cross-border trade connectivity between Vietnam and Laos. According to Mr. Minh, in the context of increasingly fierce international integration and competition, the construction of modern transport corridors not only helps optimize the supply chain and reduce logistics costs, but also creates new growth poles for the Central region's economy, expands the ability to connect the East-West region and promote cross-border trade.

The Central region in general and Da Nang in particular have many advantages in logistics development.

Sharing the same view, Deputy Director of the Import-Export Department (Ministry of Industry and Trade) Tran Thanh Hai said that for the Central region, this is a favorable time to promote and accelerate logistics development. Currently, the policy institutions and environmental factors are very favorable when the Party and State leaders and the administrative boundary merger activities are creating new impulses to promote logistics in the Central region.

Sharing at the discussion session on the topic "New generation transport corridor - "Leverage" for cross-border logistics development", Mr. Hoang Hong Giang - Deputy Director of the Department of Maritime and Waterways (Ministry of Construction) gave advice on attracting goods and tourists through seaports.

According to him, in general, expand and improve the capacity of 14 seaports: Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Thua Thien Hue, Da Nang, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh, Phu Yen, Khanh Hoa, Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan. At the same time, synchronize connections: North-South expressway, East-West corridor, expressway connecting seaports and the Central Highlands, railway connecting seaports according to planning. Develop specialized passenger ship terminals in Hue, Da Nang, Nha Trang.

Seaports are one of the advantages for the Central region to develop logistics. Photo: THANH LAN

Meanwhile, Mr. Tran Tien Dung - Chairman of Hai Phong Logistics Association, Chairman of Macstar Group commented that Vietnam's advantage is having a very long coastline, which is very good for planning transportation plans, helping businesses create competitive costs. At the same time, it contributes greatly to reducing emissions - one of the common, long-term trends in the world's sustainable development strategy.

Realizing that opportunity, Macstar Group has started implementing green transport solutions from 2024 with diverse modes of transport with different ship sizes to open up connecting routes from major seaports in Vietnam to seaports around the world...

Sharing the same view, Mr. Geert van Doorslaer, Co-Chairman of the Transportation and Logistics Committee, American Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (Amcham), said that Hue city has great potential in logistics development. However, according to him, the Central region does not have many localities investing in this issue as much as in the South.

According to Mr. Geert van Doorslaer, Chan May port has great potential for logistics development and attracts businesses. Therefore, the locality needs to take advantage of its advantages to invest in synchronous infrastructure and this will be the East-West connection point.

Citing the places Amcham surveyed, this person "named" Quang Tri where My Thuy is about to be completed, Hue has Chan May, Da Nang has Lien Chieu... The ports have all received huge investments and there are many areas that are favorable enough for businesses to operate.

He said that Vietnam has now identified the International Financial Center in Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang, showing that the Central region has a particularly important position. According to Mr. Geert van Doorslaer, currently US businesses are concerned about tax rates and many businesses may move from China to Vietnam...

The 6th Regional Logistics Forum is not only an opportunity for exchange and connection, but also an important milestone in the strategy to turn the North Central and Central Coast into a national logistics center, creating a strong momentum for the Vietnamese economy in the period of deep integration.

Source: https://baodanang.vn/vung-bac-trung-bo-va-duyen-hai-mien-trung-nhan-dien-suc-bat-tang-truong-3300101.html