The Vietnam National Shipping Lines Corporation (Vinalines) will devise a number of measures to further promote growth of its three key sectors of seaports, shipping and maritime services with a view to joining a global shipping alliances (GSA).
According to Acting General Director of Vinalines Nguyen Canh Tinh, the firm will focus resources on these three fields, which are expected to create breakthrough development for the corporation.
Vinalines will improve its competitiveness through providing an all-in-one logistics service to customers, and promoting the application of information technology, especially in managing and operating seaports.
Tinh said in the strategy of developing sea transport after equitisation, Vinalines will conduct investment expansion and co-operate with container shipping firms between Vietnam and other countries in the world through transhipment and the deep-water ports of Vinalines.
The firm is looking to join GSA to affirm itself as a container transhipment unit in the region, he stressed.
Tran Tuan Hai, head of the Development Strategy and Communication Department of Vinalines, said maritime services is one of the core segments that bring great profits to the corporation.
The firm will co-operate with the Vietnam Logistics Business Association and other business associations to research and advise the Government on completing the legal framework for logistics management in Vietnam; boost co-operation and form joint ventures with member businesses and foreign partners in order to create a global shipping services supply network.
It will also develop added-value services for customers and multimodal logistics services, as well as expand its service network by building a wide network of agents in and outside the country to increase competitiveness.
Hai stressed that beside the above-mentioned solutions, it is also important to find new markets. Vinalines will also pay heed to investing in development of inland container depots (ICD) and distribution depots in strategic locations, towards forming a chain of services through key ports, attracting businesses to participate in activities and providing package services to customers, Hai said.
According to the Vietnam Maritime Department, 300,000 enterprises have registered to operate in logistics-related fields in the country, with 1,300 of them being providers of maritime and logistics services. Vietnam is home to about 30 transnational logistics businesses.
Vinalines is a state-owned enterprise engaging in shipping, port management, maritime services and logistics in Vietnam and abroad.
The firm reported that more than 106 million tonnes of goods were shipped via its port network last year, 6.3% more than in 2018. Its vessels transported 23 million tonnes of cargo, up 11.6% against the previous year.
By the end of 2019, Vinalines’ consolidated revenue was estimated at more than VND12.4 trillion (US$518 million), 6% above the 2018 figure, while its profit reached VND669 billion (US$28.74 million).
