The 2023 Asia-Pacific Regional Annual Meeting of the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA) is taking place in Da Nang on July 14 and 15.

Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan speaking at the conference

Hosted by the Viet Nam Logistics Business Association (VLA), the event is part of a series of annual international conferences of the world logistics industry including FIATA RAP, and AFFA Mid-Year Conference 2023.

The event attracts nearly 300 international logistics service providers from 50 countries in the Asia-Pacific region, and some businesses interested in seeking cooperation opportunities in this field.

In his opening speech delivered at the meeting, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan highlighted the importance of the event in promoting investment and business cooperation in the freight and logistics fields in the Asia Pacific region in particular and worldwide in general.

With a special location, Viet Nam is becoming an attractive destination for logistics activities in the Asia-Pacific region, he added.

According to the World Bank Report published in 2023, Viet Nam ranks 43^rd among 160 countries and territories in logistics performance index (LPI), and among the top 5 ASEAN countries with the annual growth rate of the logistics market in the country of 14-16%.

The event opened up chances for setting up connections between Viet Nam and countries around the world in logistics field, Deputy Minister Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan emphasised.

Vice Chairman of the Da Nang People's Committee Ho Ky Minh delivering his speech at the conference.

In his remarks at the event, Da Nang People’s Committee Vice Chairman Ho Ky Minh noted that logistics was identified as an important service industry in the overall structure of the national economy, playing a role in supporting, connecting and promoting the country’s socio-economic development and improving the competitiveness of the economy.

He added that Da Nang holds an important position in politics, economy, culture, society, security and defence in Central Viet Nam in general and the central key economic zone in particular. The city is an important gateway to the sea from the Central Highlands and Laos, Cambodia, Thailand and Myanmar to the Northeast Asian countries through the East-West Economic Corridor.

The city has taken the initiative to build an open and transparent economic mechanism in a bid to create the most favourable environment for investors.

Da Nang leads the entire central key economic zone in terms of economic growth rate (14.5%) as well as GRDP per capita ($4,313/person). The structure of the city's service sector achieved the highest value, reflecting the dynamism and ability to meet the complex requirements of the modern economy.

Vice Chairman Minh said the event provided a good opportunity for transport, logistics and import-export service providers in Da Nang, and Viet Nam as a whole, to meet, exchange cooperation chances and learn from international experience.

Besides, it gave Da Nang a good chance to introduce their economic, investment, trade and tourism potential to international partners and friends, he emphasised.

In the coming period, logistics services will continue to be identified by Da Nang as an important industry, having a great impact on the city's growth.

The city leader revealed that Da Nang is drastically implementing its master plan for 2021-2030 period, with a vision towards 2050 with major orientations on promoting the development of logistics service and infrastructure and accelerating such key projects as Lien Chieu Port, a logistics center at Da Nang International Airport, etc.

The conference attracts hundreds of international logistics service providers from 50 countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

According to Mr. Le Duy Hiep, President of VLA, during the event, the participants will discuss issues related to logictics; build business cooperation relationships to promote the sustainable development of Viet Nam's logistics service industry, soon turning Viet Nam into a new logistics service center in the Asia-Pacific region.

Additionally, a business-to-business (B2B) programme will be held within the framework of the conference, enabling Vietnamese companies to directly contact foreign partners, and increase exports to international markets.

It is known that the afternoon session of July 14 featured discussions about FIATA's digital journey: development of digital freight forwarders; the role of the logistics center in the development of cross-border transport and the East-West economic corridor; global FIATA-IATA air cargo training programme and benefits for the Asia-Pacific region.

Meanwhile, ways to facilitate trade goods for cross-border transport, train human resources in the logistics industry, and boost sustainable development and digital transformation in the logistics industry will be main topics at the mid-year meeting of the ASEAN Freight Forwarders Association (AFFA) slated for tomorrow, July 15.

Reporting by THU HA - Translating by M.DUNG