Private sector prompted to develop waterway transport

Minister of Transport Nguyen Van The has required relevant agencies to boost the private sector's participation in developing waterway transport field.
 
Seagoing vessel travelling to HCMC by waterway (Photo: SGGP)
Seagoing vessel travelling to HCMC by waterway (Photo: SGGP)
The requirement was made after the Prime Minister asked the ministry to report reasons for the currently undeveloped field.
According to Mr. The, cargo and passenger transport by waterway now account for 17-19 percent and 4-6 percent of the market share, which are too low and unable to promote the strength of national waterway network.
That has been because of asynchronous infrastructures to linking up seaports, old and outdated waterway transport means, low investment capital and businesses’ weak competitive ability.
Minister The asked Vietnam Inland Waterway Administration to have suitable solutions basing on real situation. At first, the agency should issue legal documents to create a mechanism for private firms participate in developing the field, have policies to help them access credit sources and provide special preferences for residents and businesses to build new waterway transport means.
He urged the agency’s leaders to get rid of the thought of using state budget to develop waterway projects in the current period and focus on solving difficulties for the private sector.
Mr. The required the administration to soon organize a conference to review logistics activities in the Mekong Delta region to find out reasons why waterway transport has not developed in the area despite having advantageous conditions.

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