The Da Nang People's Committee has just approved the project ‘The development of logistics services in the city, effectively connecting the central key economic zone and the East-West Economic Corridor (EWEC) in the 2021 - 2030 period, with a vision to 2050’. Accordingly, the project's objective is to develop the city’s logistics services in a modern, synchronous and sustainable direction, a step to gradually turn Da Nang into a national logistics centre of an international stature.

The city also eyes to emerge as an important key economic development area of the country, the main door to the sea of central locations and the EWEC, serving an important link of the Asia-Pacific transport corridor.

Loading and unloading activities are observed at the Tien Sa Port. Photo: T.L

Dealling with inadequate in logistics services

According to the Da Nang Department of Transport, the operation of logistics services in Da Nang plays an important role in the central key economic zone. In the 2011 – 2021 period, the average growth rate is about 7 - 9%/year.

The proportion of contribution to the city's GRDP is from 6 - 8%; the proportion of outsourced logistics services is about 25 - 30%. However, there are still inadequacies and problems that hinder the development of logistics activities as well as improve the quality of logistics services in Da Nang.

Specifically, at present, Da Nang does not have a specific policy on logistics services at seaports, airports, and railway stations, leading to the shortage of full potential and  integrated logistics services.

Although the city's logistics infrastructure development policy is given a heed from the competent authorities, the organisation of investment implementation is still slow.

Under the newly-issued project, along with the announcement of a list of 10 projects calling for investment in developing logistics centres in the city, from 2023 to 2025, Da Nang will accelerate the investment and put logistics centres into operation, key traffic works and logistics infrastructure including the Lien Chieu mega-port and connected logistics centre infrastructure; the Kim Lien railway station and its logistics centre; the cargo terminal at the Da Nang International Airport and its logistics facilities.

At the same time, focus will be placed on improving the efficiency of planning related to the development of logistics infrastructure; promulgating a number of mechanisms and policies to directly support logistics activities in the city.

A series of important goals have been set, specifically by 2030, to develop Da Nang into a highly-attractive logistics centre that strongly attracts suitable investors to perfect the infrastructure, ensure human resources and specialised skills to well operate the dynamic logistics system to become the centre of the central key economic zone.

In particular, the Da Nang seaport and international airport are the gateway for forwarding and transportation with localities, countries in the ASEAN region, and around the world as a whole.

Focus on project implementation

To promote the development of logistics service infrastructure, relevant agencies have completed the integration of transport infrastructure and land fund planning for development logistics service development in the city is included in the Prime Minister-approved adjustments to the Da Nang Master Plan to serve as a basis for implementing investment promotion activities.

Director of the Department of Transport Bui Hong Trung said that the city has completed the Tien Sa Port Phase 2 expansion project to increase the loading and unloading capacity to 10 - 12 million tonnes by 2020 and rise vessel reception capacity from 1,800 TEU to 3,500 TEU.

At the same time, investment registration certificates will be granted for the Da Nang Port JSC to develop a logistics centre in Hoa Nhon and Hoa Son communes, Hoa Vang District. It is expected to start construction in the third quarter of 2023.

In a similar vein, investment registration certificate will be granted to the Viet Nam Airlines Corporation to kick off the implementation of the cargo terminal construction project at the Da Nang International Airport. Work is slated to commence in the third quarter of 2023.

The Vietnamese Ministry of Transport has approved the investment policy of the project of upgrading National Highway 14B in parallel with speeding up the implementation of logistics service infrastructure investment projects such as the Hoa Lien - Tuy Loan section of the North - South expressway to the east of the city; the Lien Chieu Port Phase 1; cargo terminal at the Da Nang International Airport; a new road connecting the Lien Chieu Port with 1A national highway to the south of Hai Van tunnel; East-West Economic Corridor 2 project, National Highway 14G; the relocation of Da Nang railway station.
Calling for investment channelled into 10 logistics centres

Under the project of developing logistics services in Da Nang effectively connecting the central key economic region and the East-West Economic Corridor in the 2021 - 2030 period, with a vision towards 2050, the city is calling for investment into 10 logistics centres, comprising of one regional, eight provincial centres and one dedicated aviation centre.

Specifically, the Lien Chieu Port logistics centre is planned to be a grade I, regional logistics centre. The logistics centre of the Da Nang International Airport is expected to to be a specialised aviation logistics centre. The provincial logistics centers are the Kim Lien cargo station, the Da Nang Hi-Tech Park’s logistics centre, other logistics centres and warehouses and five logistics centers in Hoa Nhon, Hoa Phuoc, Hoa Phu, Hoa Ninh, Hoa Hiep Bac communes, respectively.

Reporting by THANH LAN - Translating by A.THU