Leaders of Cần Thơ and Vietnam Airlines discuss solutions to build an aviation logistics centre in Cần Thơ City. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — The southern city of Cần Thơ will earmark 27ha of land for Vietnam Airlines to build an aviation logistics centre, said Deputy Chairman of People’s Committee Trương Quang Hoài Nam on Thursday.

In a meeting with leaders of Vietnam Airlines in Cần Thơ City, Nam said the site was next to the Cần Thơ International Airport.

“After the project is approved, the city will complete procedures to give land to the carrier. We will create the most favourable conditions to support Vietnam Airlines to build the logistics centre here.”

Deputy CEO of Vietnam Airlines Trịnh Hồng Quang said the aviation logistics centre project had an estimated investment capital of US$82.9 million. It would be divided into three phases from this year to 2024, playing the role of cargo terminal, leasing space for services and distribution of goods.

Together with the construction of the centre, Quang said the carrier would open more routes from Cần Thơ to other destinations in Việt Nam and foreign countries.

Quang said Cần Thơ was the economic driving force of the Mekong Delta, having a favourable position connected to HCM City and localities in the southwest region.

“While the demand for e-commerce is growing dramatically, Vietnam Airlines believes that investment in building an aviation logistics centre in Cần Thơ would not only promote the development of logistics services for the whole region, but also contribute to reducing overload for Tân Sơn Nhất and Long Thành international airports in the future,” Quang said.

According to Director of Cần Thơ Industry and Trade Department Nguyễn Minh Toại, the aviation logistics centre would help boost the sales of local agro-products and seafood in other areas of Việt Nam, meeting the demand of many businesses.

Statistics showed that the region’s export volume is nearly 18 million tonnes per year, of which 70-80 per cent is transported to HCM City and the southeast provinces before being shipped to other places. Cần Thơ City has an annual export volume of about 800,000 tonnes of rice and about 170,000 tonnes of aquatic products. — VNS