A part of the Cái Mép – Thị Vải seaport complex in the southern province of Bà Rịa - Vũng Tàu. Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc has asked the province's authorities to develop the port into a world-class seaport hub by 2045. VNA/VNS Photo Thống Nhất

 Bà Rịa – Vũng Tàu – Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc has asked relevant ministries, agencies and the southern province of Bà Rịa – Vũng Tàu to develop the seaport and logistics system at Cái Mép – Thị Vải area to meet regional standards by 2030 towards becoming a world-class seaport hub in the world by 2045.

He made the request during a working session with provincial officials on March 20, while highlighting the province’s advantage in seaports, which the PM said could contribute to the development of the country and the southeastern region.

Hailing the province for its achievements in socio-economy, national defence-security and Party building work, he noted that local seaports’ growth of about 2 per cent amid the pandemic is good news.

The PM mentioned the Party’s guidelines and the 13th National Party Congress’s Resolution on the upgrade of seaports nationwide, including building logistics and transportation infrastructure in the region and improving service quality. He said as Cái Mép – Thị Vải Port together with Lạch Huyện Port in Hai Phong city are among the top deep-water seaports in the world, they create an advantage for the country in development.

At the same time, PM Phúc pointed out problems of the region, including incomplete transport infrastructure and a lack of modern logistics facilities, financial and banking system, and a strong fleet of ships, which must be addressed promptly.  

He told relevant ministries and agencies to improve infrastructure at Cái Mép – Thị Vải Port, start the construction of the Biên Hòa – Vũng Tàu expressway and Phước An bridge to facilitate the transportation of goods for import and export.

The Government leader directed enhancing logistics infrastructure, including establishing a goods distribution centre linking Long Thành international airport and Cái Mép – Thị Vải seaport. He assigned the Finance Ministry to set up a centre to facilitate customs clearance at Cái Mép – Thị Vải seaport and attract more vessels and financial brokers to the port.

The leader also suggested building plans to form financial-banking-insurance hubs in Phú Mỹ Town, Vũng Tàu City, while developing industrial and processing zones to shape a for-export processing centre in the province. He agreed with a proposal to open a free trade area at Cái Mép area to attract more foreign investors and a project on connecting Côn Đảo island district with the national grid.

Earlier in the morning, PM Phúc inspected the Cái Mép – Thị Vải deep-water seaport system, including Gemalink - the country’s deepest and largest deep-water seaport.

The Cái Mép – Thị Vải port complex is a group of deep-water seaports with a combined length of over 20km, which account for over 30 per cent of the country’s exports by containers, which are expected to be a trade gateway in the south.

Gemalink is the biggest seaport in the Cái Mép – Thị Vải complex and one of the 19 biggest seaports in the world which is capable of receiving the world’s biggest cruise liners. Built with a total investment of US$520 million in two phases, the port is equipped with ship-to-shore cranes designed and manufactured in Việt Nam. When the first phase of the port is inaugurated in May, it will run at at least 80 per cent of its designed capacity this year and at full capacity from next year.

During the trip, the PM also visited Tân Cảng – Cái Mép International Terminal – a joint-venture between Saigon New Port Corporation and three foreign partners with a total investment of US$100 million. Operational in January 2011, the terminal is capable of serving super vessels up to 160,000 DWT.

Over the past few years, Bà Rịa – Vũng Tàu has always been one of the five biggest contributors to the State budget. It is home to 69 seaports.- VNS