HÀ NỘI — As Việt Nam’s maritime industry grows, it will have a profound impact on the economy, tourism and trading and ultimately boost economic growth.

This was stated at a press meeting in Hà Nội yesterday, themed Cementing Việt Nam’s maritime capabilities at Asia Pacific Maritime (APM) 2018. 

APM 2018, which will be held in Singapore in March, will be a strategic platform for the region’s maritime and offshore community to meet and establish business relationships.

Việt Nam is currently one of the fastest growing economies in the world, having invested significantly in infrastructure in recent years to position itself as Asia’s next Tiger Economy.

In 2017, Việt Nam’s gross domestic product (GDP) grew at a record 6.81 per cent, while GDP growth in 2018 is expected to be 6.1 per cent.

As the most cost-effective mode of transportation, shipping plays an integral role in the national economy and moves 90 per cent of the nation’s import and export cargo.

“With long coastlines and geographical proximity to regional maritime hubs, analysts predict that Việt Nam has the potential to become one of the most important maritime countries in Asia by 2020.

"However, most Vietnamese shipowners are plagued with outdated maritime assets and limited access to capital, which greatly hinders development and growth,” said Lê Quang Trung, deputy general director of Việt Nam National Shipping Lines.

He said the present time was ripe for Việt Nam’s maritime business to modernise and close the gap with its regional counterparts. 

Last year, Việt Nam sea transport grew by six per cent, moving 130.9 million DWTs (dead-weight tonnes). In May, 2017, the Vietnamese fleet comprised 1,406 ships. The shipping industry, however, still faces many challenges in terms of technology, operational efficiencies, access to capital and ability to cater to new markets. 

According to Nguyễn Tất Hoàn, deputy director on Operations and Field Development of PetroVietnam Domestic Exploration Production Operating Company (PVEP POC) and chairman of Sea Horse Yatch, Vietnamese ship owners desperately need to modernise their shipping fleet to cut costs and improve  competitiveness. 

Hoàn said: “With a number of advantages, such as high durability, energy efficiency and low maintenance costs, composite is the ideal cost-conscious choice for Vietnamese ship owners.”

Phạm Hải Bằng, chief of the Shipping Department at the Việt Nam Registry Department, said in the past few years, Vietnamese shipping companies had put in untiring efforts in the maintenance and technical management of their shipping fleet. 

“This has enabled Việt Nam’s fleet to qualify for the Tokyo White List since 2015, which greatly boosted the safety level as well as maritime labour and environmental credibility of Việt Nam’s shipping industry," he said.

Xue Hua, managing director of Weichai Singapore Pte Ltd, said against the backdrop of the global economy, Việt Nam’s economy would continue to face uncertainties in the monetary policy of major advanced fields. However, with its predicted GDP growth, maritime-related business in Việt Nam is expected to account for a big part of the national economy by 2020. 

Việt Nam’s shipping fleet will get a chance to improve its competitiveness at the 15th APM, Southeast Asia’s leading and most recognised shipbuilding and marine, workboat and offshore exhibition and conference, which will be held at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore from March 14-16.

The three-day exhibition and conference will play host to more than 1,500 international exhibiting companies from 60 countries and is expected to attract more than 15,000 trade visitors from Asia.

APM 2018 is expected to be a strategic platform for the region’s maritime and offshore community to meet and establish business relationships. — VNS