Dong Nai – expand the seaport, don’t let the wharf turn into… a pond

Don’t let the wharf become… a pond

According to the decision approving the master plan on development of Vietnam’s seaport system in the period of 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050, Dong Nai will have 3 seaport zones planned for development in the coming period. This means that Trang Bom, Long Thanh, Nhon Trach and a part of Bien Hoa city will become the center of import-export and logistics services of the South, because these are areas where many potentials and benefits converge. position to develop.

Out of more than 30 industrial parks that have projects in operation in Dong Nai province today, two districts of Long Thanh and Nhon Trach have accounted for half of the number. Therefore, the demand for importing and exporting goods of enterprises in the area is very large. This is a large and potential market for the port system, freight and logistics services.

According to the Department of Transport of Dong Nai province, at present, the whole province has only 17 seaports in operation, including 5 general wharfs and 12 specialized wharfs. Notably, out of 17 operating seaports, only 2 have an area of ​​over 30 hectares (including Phuoc Thai port and Dong Nai port), the rest are ports with an area of ​​less than 30 hectares. At the same time, only Dong Nai and Go Dau ports, which started with the state investment and construction, have been effectively promoted, while the rest of the other seaports are in a state of fragmented and small development.

“If the picture of the province’s seaports is not adjusted or changed, then the risk of coming to the wharf to become … bridge is very high. In addition, the Provincial People’s Committee needs to have regulations on the area required to build the port. Based on this regulation, enterprises that have land but have not yet implemented projects when considering opening a seaport will have to enter into joint ventures and link together to form a port cluster. receive ships with large tonnage, meeting the needs of socio-economic development of the province. – Director of Dong Nai Department of Transport Le Quang Binh discussed.

Phuoc An deep-water port, about 40 km from the construction area of ​​Long Thanh airport, is currently undergoing construction investment steps. Also in this area, the Government has agreed to adjust the logistics service area of ​​Phuoc An port into a logistics service industrial zone of Phuoc An port. Accordingly, the logistics service industrial park of Phuoc An port is planned with a system of goods warehousing services, barge terminals, transshipment train stations, etc. to serve traffic – transportation and logistics activities for the port area. Phuoc An to industrial zones in the region and the Southern Key Economic Zone.

Mr. Cao Tien Dung – Chairman of Dong Nai People’s Committee said that in the future, when Phuoc An port is completed, the import and export of goods of the province will mainly be done through this deep-water port. Therefore, logistics service activities will also focus on developing mainly in this area.

Economic experts say that transport infrastructure is playing an important role in the development of the region’s logistics industry. In particular, traffic projects such as the Ho Chi Minh City – Long Thanh – Dau Giay Expressway have been put into operation, the Ben Luc – Long Thanh Expressway in the South is almost finished, and the Bien Hoa – Vung Tau Expressway is currently under construction. Implementation procedures, Ring Road 3 passes through 4 provinces and inter-regional cities namely Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai, Binh Duong, Ba Ria – Vung Tau under construction, Phuoc An – Cai Mep inter-port road and bridge Cat Lai port, which is expected to be built in the period of 2021-2025, will be the lifeline, playing a particularly important role in the socio-economic development of the region.

In addition, the potential of this area is also resonated from more than 20 industrial parks in the area in the districts of Long Thanh, Nhon Trach, Trang Bom and Bien Hoa city. Compared to transporting goods to other places for export, the distance to “airport city” Long Thanh or Phuoc An seaport is the shortest, helping businesses minimize transportation costs. This is an important advantage for Dong Nai to develop the logistics industry.

Long-term and methodical investment

Although Dong Nai province has established a logistics system early in the past years, so far, Dong Nai has not yet fully exploited this advantage, although the potential is said to be huge. While neighboring localities such as Binh Duong, Ba Ria-Vung Tau are gradually planning synchronously to develop logistics services. The delay in logistics development planning in Dong Nai leads to lack or inappropriate location of logistics infrastructure, lack of connection with gateway and transshipment ports such as Cai Mep – Thi Vai port and Ho Chi Minh City.

Besides, the situation is too dependent on the road and the flow of raw materials into the ports of Ho Chi Minh City… Among the more than 30 industrial zones of the province, there are thousands of foreign-invested enterprises, However, Dong Nai logistics still has not maximized its advantages, making import and export slow, customs clearance, quite long time leading to high logistics costs, affecting the competitiveness of imported and exported goods.

It can be seen that in logistics services, water transport and the port system play a very important role. Because in addition to the large volume of transport, the cost of transportation by water is also “more comfortable” than by road and air. To be able to promote the advantages of seaports, it is necessary to have a well-connected transport infrastructure system, however, currently, connected traffic is the weak point of the seaport system.

Ho Chi Minh City – Long Thanh – Dau Giay Expressway

To solve this problem, Dong Nai province has calculated and added to the planning the investment in the construction of an infrastructure system, including connecting traffic infrastructure. Accordingly, the locality has had a policy to invest in a series of transport infrastructure projects with regional and inter-regional connectivity such as: Phu Huu – Phuoc Khanh inter-port road; road 319 extending from Phuoc An port through industrial zones to Ho Chi Minh City – Long Thanh – Dau Giay highway; the road connecting the ring 3 to the Ben Luc – Long Thanh Expressway; the road connecting the airport with Dau Day – Phan Thiet Expressway; Phuoc An – Cai Mep inter-port road and Cat Lai wharf… will be the lifeline.

According to experts, airports, seaports or a series of operating industrial parks are the advantages for Long Thanh and Nhon Trach areas of Dong Nai province to develop the logistics service industry. However, to turn this area into the center of the logistics industry requires a long-term and methodical investment.

According to Secretary of the Dong Nai Provincial Party Committee Nguyen Hong Linh, it is expected that by the end of 2025, phase 1 of Long Thanh airport will be completed and put into operation. In the future, this project will create a driving force for the development of Dong Nai as well as the surrounding area. Therefore, in the next term, Dong Nai identifies Long Thanh airport as the driving force for the development of surrounding districts and cities. The central task of the province is to plan a modern synchronous urban transport network to maximize the potential and advantages that Long Thanh airport brings.

Regarding the seaport system, the People’s Committee of Dong Nai province has asked the authorities to consider adjusting to increase the size and area. Accordingly, instead of small and fragmented development, the seaport system in Nhon Trach district will be planned in the direction of developing a large-scale port cluster to serve the reception of large tonnage transport ships. Thereby, improving competitiveness and creating favorable conditions for the region’s economy to develop.

* Invite readers to watch programs broadcast by Vietnam Television on TV Online and VTVGo!