Vietnam seeks seaport expertise from Belgium

Addressing a conference in Hanoi on March 12, Deputy Minister of Transport Ngo Thinh Duc said Vietnam has given top priority to developing seaports and logistics services to take full advantage of its huge marine potential.

He described the forum as a good opportunity for Belgian enterprises to update Vietnam’s marine development strategies, share their experiences, and seek new co-operation opportunities.

Claire Tillekaerts, acting CEO of Flanders Investment and Trade, spoke highly of Vietnam’s economic growth rate over the past several years and its efforts to improve infrastructure, including ports, the airport, roads and railways.

Flanders Investment and Trade is a government agency supporting home-based companies doing businesses abroad and foreign companies looking to set up or expand their operations in Flanders, the northern region of Belgium.

Larger ports would reduce or eliminate the need for the trans-shipment of Vietnamese exports, restoring the comparative advantage of Vietnam’s cheap and relatively educated labour force, she said.

The overall improvement of Vietnam’s port system will help the country become a real “tiger” of marine development, she said, adding that choosing a right position to distribute Vietnamese goods is also a key factor in boosting its import export.

During the event, leading Belgian companies also introduced their know-how in port development, transport infrastructure, logistics, civil engineering and construction, public and private buildings, and the environment.

Belgium has four main seaports with Antwerp being the second largest in Europe. A general output of more than 260 million tonnes was generated via these ports last year.