On May 8, vice chairman of the People’s Committee of Cần Thơ City Trương Quang Hoài Nam met Sigmund Stromme, executive vice president for shipping and logistics at Thoresen Thai Agencies Public Limited from Thailand. The Thailand-based company is looking for business opportunities in the local seaport and logistics industry.

Speaking at the meeting, Nam said Hoàng Diệu Port in Bình Thủy District and Cái Cui Port in Cái Răng District are both located in Cần Thơ. "Logistics is a key industry of the city," he said, adding that the Government had approved Cần Thơ City’s proposal to build a logistics hub for the Mekong Delta, which would cover 242ha in Cái Cui Port, Cái Răng District.

The city has proposed to the Government the merger of three ports -- Tân Cảng Cái Cui, Vinaline Cái Cui and Cái Cui – to make it the largest port in the region with wharf length of some 1,200m. Site clearance for the logistics hub is underway and firms have visited the site to learn about investment opportunities.

The city has also suggested merging ports and supporting expansion of business for companies providing logistics services at ports.

Nam said Thoresen could buy stake in Viet Nam National Shipping Lines (Vinalines) to join the port-merging project, build a new port at another site along the Hậu River or invest in the existing warehouse and transport system at Cái Cui Port.

For his part, the executive vice president of Thoresen gave Nam an overview of the Thai company, saying the company had been operating in fertiliser production and shipping and logistics in southern Bà Rịa-Vũng Tàu Province.

Stromme expressed hope the company could partner with Cần Thơ City to improve port management and expand local shipping and logistics services with emphasis on container transit service to Phnom Penh (Cambodia) and Singapore. Its investment in logistics services in this city is expected to promote cooperation in logistics activities with southern Bà Rịa-Vũng Tàu Province and support the transport of cargo in the Mekong Delta region.

Cần Thơ has a large potential to develop logistics because of its favourable location in terms of water and land transport, besides having many ports and warehouses, he said. After the meeting concluded, the two sides took a field trip to Cái Cui Port.