Dong Nai setting up plans to develop into regional logistics centre

Dong Nai is planning to improve infrastructure to encourage port development

According to the evaluation of the Department of Transport, the province’s seaport system is a collection of disconnected small-scale ports (only two of the 17 seaports have a scale of over 30 hectares while there are many ports which are only a few hectares) supported by weak connecting transport infrastructure.

The province currently has 17 operational seaports. According to the plan, the province will have 46 seaports, including 20 regular port and 26 special ports.

However, Dong Nai has been facing difficulties in mobilising capital to develop the seaport system.

According to the adjusted planning, there will be an additional five port clusters, one on the Dong Nai River, Viet Thuan Thanh, Vinh Hung, Phuoc Khanh – wharf 1, and Phuoc Khanh – wharf 3. In addition, four special seaport clusters will added, including three for gas and petrol and one for the wood sector.

Le Quang Binh, director of Dong Nai Department of Transport, the road traffic system to connect with seaports have numerous inadequacies. Dong Nai has a river system which can handle ships of a capacity of 30,000 tonnes, however, the road system has not been developed synchronously, making these seaports less attractive.

The province has great potential for seaport development. For example, Bien Hoa city and Long Thanh, Nhon Trach districts have river systems convenient for port development. All three localities are attracting the most dynamic industries in the province, which require ports for cargo shipment. However, development is quite slow as investment is still sporadic.

Some projects have been approved by the provincial People's Committee since 2002 and after 15 years, they have yet to be implemented. For example, COMECO petroleum port of Petroleum Materials JSC which covers an area of 20 hectares in Phu Dong and Phuoc Khanh communes (Nhon Trach district).