The inauguration ceremony of the Lao-Vietnam International Port Terminal No. 3 on a national scale took place in the joyful and proud atmosphere of the last days of historic April. The event was even more solemn when it was honored to welcome Comrade Thongloun Sisoulith - General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Party, President of the Lao PDR and Comrade President Luong Cuong, along with senior leaders of the two countries.

With a wharf of 225m long, receiving cargo ships of 45,000 DWT, and a capacity of up to 2.15 million tons of cargo per year, the operation of Terminal 3 of Laos - Vietnam International Port is a new step in the seaport development strategy to meet the increasing demand for cargo transportation, becoming an important link in the logistics system. More specifically, this is one of the important infrastructure projects contributing to realizing the investment cooperation commitment between the Governments of Vietnam and Laos; helping Laos facilitate the import and export of goods by sea.

Mr. Nguyen Anh Tuan - Director of Lao - Viet International Port Joint Stock Company - the investor of Wharf No. 3 shared: After more than 24 years of operating Wharf No. 1 and 15 years of operating Wharf No. 2, the two wharves have maximized their capacity, contributing greatly to the development of the enterprise as well as the overall socio-economic development of the province. In response to the increasing demand for transporting goods through the port, Lao - Viet International Port Joint Stock Company has invested in Wharf No. 3. The project has become a transit point for goods between countries in the region and internationally, opening up opportunities to promote growth through economic development in the field of seaport exploitation and logistics.

Mr. Vo Ta Nghia - Deputy Director of the Department of Industry and Trade said: "The operation of Port No. 3 is very important in the field of import and export, trade of goods and logistics services; contributing to improving customs clearance capacity, shortening transportation time, reducing logistics costs, thereby increasing the competitiveness of the province's goods in the international market. At the same time, this is an important basis for Ha Tinh to expand trade connections with key economic regions at home and abroad, strongly attracting investors in the field of industry and logistics services, contributing to realizing the goals and tasks according to Resolution No. 11-NQ/TU dated May 26, 2022 of the Standing Committee of the Ha Tinh Provincial Party Committee on strengthening leadership and direction to promote exports associated with the development of logistics services in the period of 2021-2025, with a vision to 2030".

Ha Tinh has the advantage of a long coastline, the Son Duong - Vung Ang port cluster has a natural depth of -11m to -22m, is not subject to sedimentation, is an ideal condition for developing an international deep-water transit port system. According to the Government's master plan for the development of Vietnam's seaports for the period 2021 - 2030, with a vision to 2050, Ha Tinh seaport is a type I port; in which the two port areas of Vung Ang and Son Duong have the function of serving inter-regional socio-economic development, transferring part of the transit goods to Laos and Thailand.

At the inauguration ceremony of Terminal No. 3 of the Lao - Viet International Port on the afternoon of April 28, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Vo Trong Hai emphasized: "The planning of Ha Tinh province has identified Vung Ang Economic Zone as the center of growth momentum, bringing the province into a new development period; with the advantage of the Vung Ang - Son Duong deep-water port cluster, it is the gateway to the sea of ​​Laos and the Northeast region of Thailand through the East - West economic corridor. The economic zone is oriented to develop multi-industry and multi-field with pillars such as: metallurgy industry, energy, manufacturing and processing, logistics, trade and seaport services. The operation of Terminal No. 3 of the Lao - Viet International Port continues to contribute to realizing the strategic development orientation of the Vung Ang Economic Zone, expanding the capacity of the Vung Ang - Son Duong deep-water port cluster, and strengthening domestic and international trade connections".

With Terminal No. 3 of Lao Viet International Port put into operation, up to now, the whole province has 7 ports with 22 wharves in operation, of which, Vung Ang - Son Duong cluster has 5 ports with 19 wharves. Mr. Tran Van Thang - Head of Infrastructure Management Department, Ha Tinh Maritime Port Authority said: Operations at ports in the province are stable, port operators basically comply with the provisions of the law on seaport exploitation. In 2024, the output of goods through Ha Tinh seaport will reach more than 34 million tons; in the first quarter of 2025, it will reach more than 9.25 million tons. In which, the main items are ore, potash, coal, wood chips, steel, gasoline, etc.

In addition, currently, Vung Ang Port Terminal No. 4, invested by Hoanh Son Group Joint Stock Company, is also completing the final items to soon put into operation. Terminal No. 4 has a total investment of nearly 1,500 billion VND, receiving ships with a tonnage of up to 40,000 DWT, with an expected operating capacity of 2.3 million tons/year. To date, the project has achieved more than 90% progress; the 330m long, 33m wide berth has also been completed, awaiting the installation of cargo crane equipment. The port is expected to be put into operation in 2025.

Seaports play an important role as international trading centers in the field of freight transport, determining the development of the logistics industry. The development of seaports helps the logistics industry reduce costs, increase competitiveness and improve service quality. The planning of Ha Tinh province for the period 2021 - 2030, with a vision to 2050, identifies logistics services as one of the four key economic sectors creating breakthrough development.

Along with synchronizing and modernizing seaport infrastructure, Ha Tinh also implements policies to develop logistics and export services, gradually turning Ha Tinh into a gateway, a transit center for goods and warehouses to meet the development momentum of trade and import-export of the North Central region according to the Provincial Planning orientation.

Source: https://baohatinh.vn/khai-thac-loi-the-cang-bien-thuc-day-xuat-nhap-khau-va-dich-vu-logistics-post286888.html