Deputy Minister Nguyen Xuan Sang on December 15 urged Saigon Newport Corporation to lead efforts to optimize seaport operations, ease congestion and infrastructure overload, and strengthen connectivity among ports in southern Vietnam.
On December 15, in Ho Chi Minh City, Deputy Minister of Construction Nguyen Xuan Sang held a working session with Saigon Newport Corporation (SNP), urging the company to act as a "locomotive" in optimizing seaport operations in southern Vietnam.
Deputy Minister of Construction Nguyen Xuan Sang chairs a meeting with Saigon Newport Corporation.
The Deputy Minister expressed agreement with reports and proposals submitted by SNP, noting that investment in seaport infrastructure has not kept pace with rapid growth in import–export demand. Several ports are operating beyond their designed capacity, particularly Cat Lai Port.
Under the approved master plan to 2030, Cat Lai Port’s capacity is projected at around 59–65 million tonnes per year. However, actual throughput has already reached approximately 72 million tonnes, highlighting mounting pressure on existing infrastructure.
Deputy Minister Nguyen Xuan Sang welcomed SNP’s commitment to eliminating vessel waiting time by January 2026 but cautioned that this would only be a temporary solution if demand continues to rise. He stressed that long-term solutions require accelerated investment and coordinated development.
The Ministry of Construction is responsible for national seaport planning, while decentralization under Resolution 98 has delegated greater decision-making authority to Ho Chi Minh City, he said.
Describing Saigon Newport as a leading force in investment, construction and operation of Vietnam’s seaports, especially in the southern region, the Deputy Minister urged the corporation, now Corps 20, to play a pioneering role in optimizing the use of existing port infrastructure.
He emphasized the need to strengthen connectivity and coordination among seaports in Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai and Tay Ninh, and called on SNP to proactively propose concrete and feasible solutions based on its experience.
The Deputy Minister also requested faster implementation of dredging contracts for maritime channels and further studies on using fluid mud layers to facilitate vessel operations, following surveys, acceptance and pilot runs.
Regarding the proposal for a unified port code system, Deputy Minister Nguyen Xuan Sang assigned the Vietnam Maritime and Inland Waterways Administration to consolidate and finalize a report for submission to the Ministry of Construction, before seeking opinions from the Ministry of Finance and the Customs Department.
On inland waterway transport development, he said the proposal aligns with the Party’s and State’s policies, noting that bridge clearances along major routes largely meet operational requirements, while the Dong Nai Bridge has been included in the medium-term public investment plan.