Photo: csg

The Vietnam Seaports Association (VPA) is focusing on 10 major measures to upgrade national seaports to international standards in order to turn the shipping industry into the cornerstone of the national marine economy after 2020.

The strategy was worked out at an annual conference held by the association in the south central coastal province of Khanh Hoa on September 11, which drew over 300 representatives from 49 seaports nationwide alongside leaders of relevant agencies.

The VPA said it attached great importance to international cooperation in consultancy, development assistance and trade promotion to bring the national seaport system on a par with other Asian countries in all fields including development scales, management, potential-tapping effectiveness and competitiveness.

It also unveiled a plan to upgrade the technological system to increase cargo-handling capacity and mitigate service costs, thus ensuring high competitiveness in deep-water seaports in the global integration era.

Vietnam now boasts a system of 160 seaports, which recorded an annual growth rate of 20 percent in cargo handling volume.

Source: VOVNews/VNS