At the press meeting to share information about the Vietnam Logistics Forum 2023, Mr. Tran Thanh Hai, Deputy Director of the Import-Export Department (Ministry of Industry and Trade) said that the development of Vietnam logistics services in recent times has seen many developments. improve.

VIETNAM RANKS 43RD IN THE RANKING OF LOGISTICS EFFICIENCY INDEX

In particular, the legal framework for logistics services is gradually being completed, such as Decree No. 96/2022/ND-CP, Resolution No. 163/NQ-CP, Resolution No. 163/NQ-CP, Decision No. 200 /QD-TTg…

Also in the past year, Vietnam’s logistics infrastructure has been increasingly improved, the Government and ministries and branches have paid attention to investment in development, transport yards, and freight forwarding to serve import and export activities. level, expand. In particular, newly built and expanded highways, airports, ports and logistics centers have contributed to improving goods handling capacity and promoting quick and convenient circulation of goods.

Currently, the whole country has a total road length of about 595,201 km, of which national roads (national highways, expressways) are 25,560 km (an increase of 7.3% compared to 2017). The national railway network has a total length of 3,143 km and has 277 stations; 17,026 km of inland waterways nationwide are being managed and exploited…

Regarding Vietnam’s seaport system, there are currently 286 ports, distributed in 5 seaport groups, with a total wharf length of more than 96 km. The volume of goods through seaports in 2022 will reach over 733 million tons, an increase of 4% compared to 2021. Gateway ports combined with international transshipment in the North and South have been established; Successfully received container ships of up to 132,000 DWT at Lach Huyen wharf (Hai Phong), up to 214,000 DWT at Cai Mep wharf (Ba Ria – Vung Tau). Vietnam has established 32 routes, including 25 international transport routes and 7 domestic transport routes.

In the ranking of 100 container ports in 2022 with the largest cargo throughput in the world as announced by Lloyd’s List Magazine (UK), Vietnam has 3 ports in this top including: Lach Huyen (Hai Phong), Cat Lai (Ho Chi Minh City) and Cai Mep (Ba Ria – Vung Tau).

Regarding airways, the country currently has 22 airports in operation with a total area of ​​about 11,859 hectares; including 9 international airports and 13 domestic airports.

In addition, the country currently has 69 large and medium-sized logistics centers, concentratedly distributed in a number of industrial zones. Among them, there are many new generation logistics centers, applying 4.0 technology with the function of providing transportation services, order fulfillment, distribution… in a professional, modern, high-quality manner.

Not only that, according to Mr. Hai, business capacity and logistics service quality have also improved. According to the most recent business survey data (December 31, 2021) provided by the General Statistics Office, Vietnam has 34,476 logistics service enterprises with a total of 563,354 working employees. The logistics market has the participation of more than 5,000 businesses providing 3PL logistics services…

Furthermore, the World Bank report published in 2023, Vietnam ranked 43rd in the logistics efficiency index ranking, among the top 5 countries in ASEAN, after Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and the same position. with the Philippines.

The average annual growth rate of Vietnam’s logistics market is 14-16%, making an important contribution to bringing Vietnam’s total import and export turnover in 2022 to over 730 billion USD, an increase of 9.1% compared to with the same period in 2021.

According to the Agility 2023 rankings, Vietnam’s logistics market is ranked 10th in the group of 50 global emerging logistics markets. The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for the period 2022 – 2027 of the Vietnamese logistics market is forecast to reach 5.5%.

FIND SOLUTIONS TO INCREASE COMPETITIVENESS

However, Mr. Hai also admitted that Vietnamese logistics businesses are mainly small businesses, with limited scale in both capital and human resources as well as international operating experience, and there is no connection between stages in the chain. logistics supply and between logistics service businesses and import-export businesses.

Vietnamese logistics businesses provide mainly domestic logistics services such as: domestic transportation, forwarding, warehousing, customs declaration, goods inspection, space rental services on ships,…

Compared to foreign businesses, Vietnamese businesses currently hold a lot of infrastructure and assets to serve logistics activities and have the advantage of understanding domestic business practices and customers, but their operations are still lacking. single, with limited financial and administrative capacity, only serving certain segments, lacking seamless connections to provide integrated logistics services.

In the context of a less positive market, it has affected the operations of logistics service businesses. Competition to obtain orders becomes more fierce. In addition to competitive pressure on services, new international and domestic standards on the environment, traffic safety, and labor safety also put logistics service businesses in front of innovation requirements.

Global logistics businesses, when outsourcing services, require emission standards, requiring logistics businesses to proactively invest and transform production and business models towards “greening” and improve competitiveness. competition, ensuring sustainable development.

Therefore, to promote the modern development of Vietnam’s logistics industry, every year the Ministry of Industry and Trade hosts the Vietnam Logistics Forum, in order to create close connections and frank dialogue at all three levels between agencies. State management agencies at the central and local levels with associations and businesses operating in the logistics field of Vietnam.

Through associations, businesses have critical opinions and feedback on policies related to infrastructure development, business environment, customs procedures, local fee collection policies, and forums. helps state management agencies make accurate assessments to promptly issue policies that meet the practical requirements of Vietnam’s logistics industry.

Mr. Hai said that this year’s Vietnam Logistics Forum (11th time) was held in a context with many new characteristics. That is, the implementation of new free trade agreements such as CPTPP, EVFTA, UKVFTA, RCEP, VIFTA requires businesses to make efforts to improve competitiveness.

In addition, the Covid-19 epidemic has been controlled, but the socio-economic impacts after the pandemic along with the war in Ukraine caused supply chain disruptions, reduced demand for goods, and impacted strongly to businesses in general and logistics service businesses in particular.

Furthermore, the Ministry of Industry and Trade is working with ministries, sectors and localities to focus on removing difficulties, promoting production and export of goods, thereby effectively taking advantage of new FTAs, reducing damage caused by epidemics and diseases. quickly restore growth momentum.

In particular, digital transformation is an inevitable trend, helping logistics service businesses improve productivity, quality, service efficiency, enhance competitiveness in the domestic market and reach out to the international market. . Therefore, this year’s forum aims to orient and encourage logistics businesses to promote digital transformation and apply digital technology to improve competitiveness.