Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - Forty-five provinces and centrally-run citieshave issued logistics service development plans up to this point, while 47provinces and cities have reported on the implementation of logisticsactivities over the last year.

Nine provinces and cities have held conferences to promoteinvestment and develop provincial logistics services, and five provinces andcities have organised logistics knowledge training for local officials.

The Agency of Foreign Trade (AFT) under the Ministry of Industryand Trade (MoIT) held a meeting with municipal and provincial departments of industryand trade concerning State management of the logistics sector in Hanoi lastweek.

Speaking at the opening of the meeting, AFT Director Nguyen Anh Sonsaid that with a special geopolitical location in a dynamic development area ofthe world, along with increasingly deep integration with the global economy, Vietnam'sgrowth rate of import-export and e-commerce was always in the double digits.

Vietnam was becoming an attractive destination for logisticsactivities in the Asia-Pacific region, added Son.

The World Bank’s report published last year showed that Vietnamranked 43rd in the logistics efficiency index ranking, in the top five of ASEANafter Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand, and the same position as thePhilippines.

Along with that, the average annual growth rate of Vietnam'slogistics was from 14 – 16%, making an important contribution in bringing Vietnam'stotal export and import turnover to 638 billion USD last year.

Vietnam’s logistics services not only contributed significantly tothe country's economic development but also played an important role increating an effective transportation network, connecting domestic trade withinternational markets, he said.

Sharing at the meeting, Vu Bich Hao, Deputy Director of theDepartment of Industry and Trade of Ba Ria - Vung Tau province, emphasised thatlogistics services in the province were quite diverse, includingtransportation, warehousing and other support services.

The province currently has a total of more than 300 businesses providinggoods transportation services and logistics warehousing services, according tothe official.

Regarding seaport logistics infrastructure, Ba Ria - Vung Tau has69 planned ports. Of which, there are 50 projects in operation with a totalwharf length of 17,735 metres and a total design capacity of 180 million tonnesper year; and eight container ports with capacity of 8.3 million TEUs per year.

Cai Mep – Thi Vai Port cluster is the main port cluster of Ba Ria- Vung Tau seaport. There are currently 24 projects in operation with wharflength of 10,988 metres and total design capacity of 155 million tonnes peryear.

It had the potential to be an important gateway not only for Vietnambut also for Southeast Asia, said Hao.

To improve competitiveness and develop the logistics industry, sheproposed the MoIT continue to improve policies and laws on logistics services;especially detailed guidance on State management in the field of logistics toserve as a legal basis for localities to deploy and implement./.