According Planning and Investment Ministry’s Foreign Investment Department Director Phan Huu Thang, foreign investors who wish to pour money on seaports will be exempted from tax applied to material for seaport construction and upgrading imported as well as cooperate income tax. They will also be given favourable conditions in terms of construction sites and provided with adequate information regarding Viet Nam ’s seaport system.

However, Paul Hoogwaerts from the seaport group at the Viet Nam Business Forum held in Ha Noi in early December said that Viet Nam should continue dealing with problems that hinder seaport development, mentioning important infrastructure facilities and data on port system.

Dutch Ambassador to Viet Nam Andre Haspels expressed hope for further cooperation between the Netherlands and Viet Nam in the field. He also revealed that a delegation from the world’s second largest port, Rotterdam , will pay a visit to Viet Nam and work with Ho Chi Minh City , Da Nang city and Hai Phong city to boost bilateral cooperation.

In 2007, an estimated 170 million tonnes of cargo have been shipped via seaports, an increase of 16 million tonnes over the last year. The figure is forecast to reach 250 million tonnes in 2010 and nearly 550 million tonnes in the next three years.

According to Deputy Director of the Viet Nam Maritime Department Nguyen Ngoc Hue, Viet Nam’s seaports are capable of receiving 180,000 tonnes of cargo per year from 50,000 tonne ships downwards.

It is necessary to upgrade the existing seaports and build new ones to receive the increased amount of cargo arriving in the country as well as big ships of up to 80,000 tonnes, Hue said.

The Maritime Law, which took effect in 2006, has paved way for foreign investors to pour money into Vietnamese seaports. To date, foreign investors have got involved in the country’s 10 seaport development projects.

Notably is the Cai Mep-Thi Vai seaport complex in southern Ba Ria-Vung Tau province. It was built to receive large vessels with total investment of 1.5 billion USD from the US, Denmark, Singapore and Hong Kong.

Source: VNA