Removing bottlenecks for Can Tho to develop a modern logistics center

Revolving around the theme "Can Tho City aims to become a modern logistics center - Development driving force of the Mekong Delta", at the annual Can Tho City Economic Forum 2025 (held on November 14), representatives of department and industry leaders, speakers, and businesses analyzed the advantages and potentials as well as frankly acknowledged the bottlenecks in logistics development in Can Tho, thereby exchanging and giving advice to remove barriers, creating a foundation for the sustainable development of Can Tho's logistics ecosystem.

Identify bottlenecks

Mr. Nguyen Van Khoi, Vice Chairman of Can Tho City People's Committee, frankly acknowledged the difficulties and challenges in Can Tho's orientation towards a modern logistics center, a comprehensive hub of the Mekong Delta region, which is the logistics infrastructure is not yet synchronized, especially the connection of waterways, ports, warehouses and digital technology infrastructure; agricultural logistics services are still limited in receiving, preserving, transporting and clearing goods; most logistics enterprises are small and medium-sized, lacking the capacity to provide full-package services, integrated according to the value chain; some mechanisms and policies are not really suitable for the new situation, need to continue to be improved to meet the requirements of regional economic development and the urban consolidation process.

From the perspective of experts, businesses and state management agencies, Can Tho City has many potentials and advantages in trade, services, logistics and marine economy, but still needs to overcome limitations in infrastructure, logistics services, business capacity and policy mechanisms.

Mr. Bui Thien Thu, Vice President of the Vietnam Port - Waterway - Continental Shelf Association, said that the Mekong Delta waterway transport infrastructure is still weak and unsynchronized, with sedimentation at river mouths, the depth does not ensure the safe operation of large tonnage ships; bridges have low clearance, narrow navigation spaces, these are major bottlenecks in infrastructure for inland waterway transport, not ensuring that watercraft can transport large volumes of goods, oversized, overweight goods, and containers for import and export. In addition, the region does not have many large-scale inland waterway ports, the wharves are mainly spontaneous, small, lack investment, and do not ensure safety and technical standards. The connection of waterway transport with other modes of transport (road, railway, seaport) is still fragmented and ineffective. Like other regions across the country, the Mekong Delta region still lacks coordination between localities in the construction, management and exploitation of waterways, especially the management of inland waterway protection corridors...

Some experts say that the capacity of logistics enterprises in Can Tho is mostly small and medium enterprises, lacking the capacity to provide integrated services along the value chain. Enterprises still operate separately, lack linkages, and depend on partners at the beginning or end of the supply chain. This reduces the ability to control quality, increases intermediate costs and risks. Meanwhile, policies to support logistics enterprises, especially small and medium enterprises, are still not strong enough to create motivation; there is no centralized logistics coordination center to connect, share data and optimize transportation flows, the warehouse system has not developed enough to meet demand, and there is a lack of a centralized management technology platform, resulting in low operational efficiency and suboptimal costs.

Operating at Tan Cang Thot Not.

Removing barriers

Mr. Huynh Thanh Su, Deputy Director of the Department of Industry and Trade of Can Tho City, said that to remove obstacles and barriers in logistics development, the city needs to continue to improve transport infrastructure, which is to speed up the construction of expressways; upgrade and dredge the waterway for Cai Cui port, develop a satellite system along the Hau River to increase transport capacity; upgrade airports; develop the Ho Chi Minh City - Can Tho railway project. Call for investment in developing modern logistics centers. Submit to the Government for early approval and prioritize funding for the Tran De deep-water seaport project, considering it a national strategic project. At the same time, improve the investment and business environment, promote administrative procedure reform, build e-government and smart cities, develop human resources and apply technology. At the same time, it is necessary to strengthen regional connectivity, promote logistics connectivity between Can Tho and Ho Chi Minh City to create a strong economic corridor.

Mr. Nguyen Minh Phuc, Institute of International Economics and Business, Foreign Trade University, said that the fastest way to keep up with the development of the international logistics sector is to learn from international programs and experiences; in which there needs to be training cooperation in the direction of cooperation with international training facilities that meet standards or link with training units and professional units operating in the logistics sector.

From practical operations in the logistics sector, Ms. Phan Thi Hong Nhung, Sales Director of Hanh Nguyen Logistics Joint Stock Company, believes that digital transformation is a core issue in business operations and management. In the transformation process, businesses expect the State to invest and accelerate the completion of a synchronized digital logistics management system according to national standards. Only then can businesses confidently participate in transformation and digitalization applications in operating their systems. Along with that, the State and the government need to pay attention to training highly qualified human resources, integrating the operation process and data analysis. In addition, like many industries and professions, businesses operating in the logistics sector need to have support policies for businesses in the transformation process and digitalization application such as tax incentives, support in accessing preferential loans, etc. At the same time, expanding public-private partnership investment to create conditions for logistics businesses to participate in investing in building logistics centers and infrastructure that the city is aiming for...

According to Mr. Le Thanh Hoa, Acting Director of the Institute of Socio-Economics of Can Tho City, after 5 years of implementing and institutionalizing Resolution No. 59/NQ-BCT dated August 5, 2020 of the Politburo on building and developing Can Tho City to 2030, with a vision to 2045, state management of logistics has received increasing attention, from policy formulation and promulgation, planning, infrastructure investment, human resource development to creating a favorable investment and business environment, in order to contribute to achieving the socio-economic development goals set by the city.

Accordingly, Can Tho has issued many policies to attract investment and develop logistics infrastructure such as Project No. 06-DA/TU dated December 25, 2021 of the Can Tho City Party Committee on developing transport and logistics infrastructure in the city for the period 2021-2025 and orientation for the period 2026-2030 as well as Decision No. 328 of the Can Tho City People's Committee approving the Action Plan to improve competitiveness and develop logistics services in the city; the city has also received investment from the Government to build expressways through the area such as Chau Doc - Can Tho - Soc Trang expressway, Can Tho - Ca Mau expressway; upgrading major river ports such as Cai Cui port, Vinalines Hau Giang port; paying attention to investing in building logistics infrastructure such as investing in building an aviation logistics center associated with Can Tho International Airport; investing in building a logistics center associated with Cai Cui port; developing Tran De seaport. At the same time, many industrial parks were established, as well as investment in developing commercial infrastructure...

With Can Tho's ambition by 2030 to not only solve these bottlenecks but also become an international multimodal "Logistics Hub", reduce transportation costs and be a focal point for supplying deeply processed agricultural products, the city is building a specific action roadmap, determined to implement breakthrough solutions, including multimodal infrastructure breakthrough; focusing on high-value logistics, committed to creating and protecting businesses. Believing in the city's determination, the accompaniment of functional agencies and businesses, in the coming time, logistics activities in Can Tho City will become more substantial in both quantity and quality, in both breadth and depth.

Article and photos: KHÁNH NAM

Source: https://baocantho.com.vn/thao-diem-nghen-de-can-tho-phat-trien-trung-tam-logistics-hien-dai-a194109.html