HÀ NỘI – The party secretary of the southern province of Bà Riạ-Vũng Tàu, Nguyễn Hồng Lĩnh, has proposed that the Ministry of Transport and the Government consider developing Cái Mép-Thị Vải Port complex and Long Thành international airport into the economic centre of the south.

Lĩnh was speaking at the meeting on Thursday between the People’s Committee of Bà Riạ-Vũng Tàu and a visiting delegation from the Transport Ministry, led by Minister Nguyễn Văn Thể.

The Long Thành international airport project is still in preparation phase while the Cái Mép-Thị Vải port complex, located in Bà Rịa-Vũng Tàu Province, already received significant investment and was to become one of the largest seaport centres in the country. However, according to the provincial Party Secretary, the port complex is currently using only a small part of its designed capacity, causing economic waste to national resources.

Therefore, provincial authorities have proposed that the Government and Ministry of Transport speed up the construction progress of traffic infrastructure projects such as the Biên Hòa-Vũng Tàu expressway and railway, provincial roads, ring roads and Phước An Bridge.

The ministry also asked to push forward the progress of dredging Cái Mép-Thị Vải Port, Gành Rái Bay area, aiming at facilitating the transportation of goods.

In addition, the Government actively supports Bà Rịa - Vũng Tàu Province authorities to set up Cái Mép – Thị Vải port’s management board, and inspection-quarantine centre, that will create favourable conditions for enterprises.

Firms will find it more efficient to use Cái Mép-Thị Vải Port complex as a loading area, instead of Cát Lái (in HCM City), according to the provincial Party Secretary Nguyễn Hồng Lĩnh.

This contributes to reducing both pressure on Cát Lái Port (the current volume of cargo passing through Cát Lái port consistently exceeds its designed capacity) and traffic congestion in HCM City.

He said that the province is preparing a plan to publicly auction five provincial land areas and use this money in conjunction with the government budget to carry out important projects, creating momentum for local development.

At the meeting, recognising the importance of the Biên Hòa-Vũng Tàu expressway, Transport Minister Nguyễn Văn Thể has proposed provincial authorities to be the project owner because local authorities will have more options and ideas in seeking funding.

The minister also proposed provincial authorities to be the investor of ring road 4’s section passing through the province.

In addition, he said, the ministry will soon have a solution to the provincial authorities’ recommendations and proposals such as building a multi-use Vũng Tàu airport; upgrading Côn Sơn Airport (Côn Đảo island district); creating conditions for airlines to use new-generation aircraft; exempting maritime charges and fees for all container ships landing at Cái Mép-Thị Vải Port complex; implementing measures to ensure traffic safety and flood prevention for National Highway 51.—VNS