Mr. Phan Van Mai, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, has just signed and submitted to the Prime Minister the Project on Research and Construction of Can Gio International Transit Port. Accordingly, Can Gio International Transit Port is expected to be put into operation in phase 1 before 2030. According to the project just sent to the Prime Minister, Can Gio International Transit Port will be added to the Ho Chi Minh City seaport planning and development investment orientation for the period 2021-2030. The project investment phase will be implemented in the period 2023-2025; the port will be built in the period 2025-2027; Can Gio International Transit Port will be put into operation from 2028.

Perspective of the future Can Gio International Transit Port (Photo: Portcoast).

The transport infrastructure connecting Can Gio International Transit Port will be implemented according to the roadmap from now until 2030. After that, the city will have a plan to supply electricity, water, telecommunications, auxiliary works serving the port, and post-port service infrastructure. Regarding capital sources, Can Gio International Transit Port, auxiliary works, logistics service center, and duty-free area will be invested by enterprise capital. Transport infrastructure and technical infrastructure connecting the port will be invested by State budget capital, public-private partnership (PPP) investment capital or other legal capital sources on the basis of minimizing investment capital from the State budget. Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee said that the proposed port location is Con Cho Islet, at the mouth of Cai Mep River, in Can Gio District. The natural area in this area is about 86 hectares, belonging to the buffer zone of Can Gio Mangrove Biosphere Reserve.

Proposed location for construction of Can Gio International Transit Port (Photo: Portcoast).

This is the area surrounding the core zone, contributing to limiting human impact, helping to preserve the biodiversity of the core zone; economic development activities, and rational exploitation of natural resources are allowed to be implemented. The port location is adjacent to the Vung Tau - Thi Vai shipping channel, about 1km from the Cai Mep port area currently operating on the opposite shore. The ports at Cai Mep have been operating for many years, operating stably, ensuring maritime safety, and not affecting the environment. At the same time, Ho Chi Minh City is also researching the planting of replacement forests with an area 3 times the area of ​​forest used for Can Gio International Transit Port.

Can Gio Mangrove Biosphere Reserve (Photo: PN).

The project consultant also collected data, calculated, and used a mathematical model to simulate the hydrodynamic regime to study and evaluate the impact of shoreline erosion, riverbed sedimentation, and neighboring areas, including the Can Gio Mangrove Biosphere Reserve. The simulation results showed that the Thanh An island commune area and the Can Gio Mangrove Biosphere Reserve, as well as neighboring areas, were not affected by shoreline erosion due to the construction of the Can Gio International Transit Port in the future. The Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee also emphasized the view that the investment in port construction must ensure economic and social efficiency, environmental protection, especially the protection and preservation of the ecosystem of the Can Gio Mangrove Biosphere Reserve. Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee said that when put into operation (completion phase), Can Gio International Port will directly contribute to the state budget about 34,000 to 40,000 billion VND/year, estimated to create jobs for 6,000-8,000 workers.