Reducing logistics costs will help Vietnamese goods penetrate deeper into the EU market.

Mr. Bui Van Quy, Chairman of the Southeast Asian Port Association and Deputy General Director of Saigon Newport, had an exchange with a reporter from the Industry and Trade Newspaper regarding this issue.

Mr. Bui Van Quy, Chairman of the Southeast Asian Port Association and Deputy General Director of Saigon Newport (Photo: Can Tho Newspaper)

Given its position as one of Vietnam's largest seaports, what do you think are the strengths of Saigon Newport that would make it a suitable partner for Gothenburg Port – one of the largest seaports in Northern Europe?

Saigon Newport Corporation operates a system of 28 port facilities and logistics service infrastructure nationwide. Notably, Saigon Newport is the only port operator with a deep-water port system in both the South and North, directly connecting to the Americas and Europe. It exports goods to over 200 countries and territories, collaborates with more than 150 shipping lines and agents worldwide , and serves over 40,000 domestic and international import-export partners, customers, and businesses.

With a cargo handling volume of up to 10 million TEU/year, Saigon Newport Corporation contributes over 92% of the market share in the Southern region and nearly 56% of the import and export container market share through seaports nationwide. The total container throughput of ports under the Saigon Newport Corporation system is currently equivalent to the throughput of the 17th-ranked port cluster in the TOP 20 largest container port clusters in the world.

Signing ceremony of the MOU between Gothenburg Port and Saigon Newport Corporation. Photo: Vietnam Trade Office in Sweden.

It is known that Gothenburg Port and Saigon Newport Corporation have signed a memorandum of cooperation. What are your expectations for the cooperation between the two sides in the future?

As part of their official visit to Sweden and Finland, on September 4, 2024 (Swedish time), in Sweden, the delegation from the Hai Phong City People's Committee, led by Mr. Le Khac Nam - Vice Chairman of the City People's Committee, held a working meeting with Gothenburg Port - the largest seaport in the Nordic region - to strengthen cooperation in the field of logistics.

The working session between Hai Phong city leaders at Gothenburg Port continued the two sides' orientation to strengthen cooperation in ports and logistics, creating favorable conditions for Vietnamese goods in general, and Hai Phong goods in particular, to directly enter each other's markets in the Nordic region, thereby increasing import and export turnover.

Subsequently, on September 6th, within the framework of the Vietnam-Sweden Business Forum, Saigon Newport Corporation and Gothenburg Port signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). Saigon Newport Corporation has a network spanning from North to South Vietnam, including two deep-water port clusters with direct shipping routes from Hai Phong (TC-HICT) and Cai Mep to the Americas and Europe. Saigon Newport Corporation recognizes this as a significant opportunity for shipping lines to establish direct service routes to Gothenburg Port, Sweden in the near future.

With this memorandum of understanding, how will Vietnamese exports to Northern Europe in particular, and Europe in general, benefit, according to you?

The city of Hai Phong, Saigon Newport Corporation, and Gothenburg Port signed a memorandum of cooperation to jointly promote the market, exchange experiences in port operations, especially in digital transformation, green transformation, sustainable development, and human resource development for the port operation, logistics services, and supply chain industries.

With the above points in mind, both sides will coordinate, research cooperation, and connect with major European shipping companies that have direct routes in Vietnam to build direct maritime transport routes from Vietnam to Sweden in particular and the Nordic region in general. This could reduce logistics costs, leading to lower prices for goods, while also increasing transit times and product diversity. This would facilitate direct access for Vietnamese goods in general, and those from Hai Phong in particular, to each other's markets in the Nordic region, thereby increasing import and export turnover.

To realize the contents of the memorandum of understanding, what solutions will Saigon Newport implement in the coming period?

To realize the contents of the memorandum of understanding, first, Saigon Newport and Gothenburg Port will establish an "Action Implementation Team" with members from both sides who will regularly and periodically work together, outlining specific goals and timelines to coordinate and connect with international shipping partners such as CMA, HAPAG LOYLD, MAERSK, MSC… and major import and export shippers.

In addition, Saigon Newport will closely coordinate with the People's Committee of Hai Phong City, the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, especially the Departments of Industry and Trade of the two cities, to organize workshops and forums related to import and export between Vietnam and Sweden. Working groups will regularly exchange information between the two countries to learn and apply knowledge and skills in green transformation and digital transformation from Gothenburg Port to Saigon Newport's port system in Vietnam.

Thank you, sir !

The signing ceremony of the MOU between Saigon Newport and Gothenburg Port was held on September 6th, within the framework of the Vietnam-Sweden Forum organized to celebrate the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Sweden, jointly organized by the Vietnamese Embassy in Sweden, the Vietnamese Trade Office in Sweden, and FPT Group.

Source: https://congthuong.vn/giam-chi-phi-logistics-dua-hang-viet-tien-sau-thi-truong-eu-345249.html