Binh Duong strives to become a logistics center of the Southern region

In the Binh Duong Provincial Planning for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050 (referred to as the Provincial Planning), Binh Duong identifies logistics as a key economic sector in its development strategy, becoming one of the main growth pillars of the province's trade and service sector; striving to become a major logistics service center of the Southeast and Southern regions by 2050.

Develop into a key economic sector

Up to now, Binh Duong has formed a regional logistics service chain with an infrastructure system, including 15 large-scale logistics centers, including 3 inland container depots (ICDs) and 1 international railway station serving import and export of goods; forming 10 river ports, 21 warehouses, 19 bonded warehouses, 2 CFS warehouses (collection locations for small-sized goods) to serve production activities in industrial parks and clusters well and perform the function of distributing goods to provinces and cities in the region and for export.

Railway transport makes a positive contribution to the freight transport and import-export activities of Binh Duong. In photo: Launching ceremony of the first train exporting coconuts to China at Song Than International Transit Station.

Associate Professor - Dr. Ho Thi Thu Hoa, Director of the Vietnam Logistics Research Institute, said that with its geographical location advantages, synchronous infrastructure, and rapid development of industrial parks, Binh Duong is considered an attractive place for logistics businesses. The logistics industry has full inherent potential to become one of the important and spearhead economic sectors of Binh Duong, a driving force for the province's socio-economic development in the future.

Recently, at Song Than international transit station (Di An city), Railway Transport and Trade Joint Stock Company (Ratraco) in collaboration with FADO i Export Joint Stock Company (FADO) held a ceremony to announce the first train carrying fresh coconuts for export to Guangzhou, China. The shipment consisted of three containers of fresh coconuts weighing 67.5 tons, valued at approximately 220,000 yuan, transported to Guangzhou over a total journey time of seven days. Mr. Pham Tan Dat, Chairman of the Board of Directors of FADO Joint Stock Company, said: “Through research on road, sea, air and rail transport methods, we have found that rail is a more efficient mode of transport for businesses in terms of cost and time, while also being highly stable, especially for exporting Vietnamese agricultural products to China. Moreover, rail transport also opens up the possibility of exporting agricultural products to other markets such as Mongolia, Russia, Kazakhstan, bringing great opportunities for businesses."

At the announcement ceremony, Mr. Luu Van Phi, Director of the Department of Industry and Trade of Tien Giang province, said that Song Than International Transit Station not only facilitates the transportation and export of goods from Binh Duong province but also for the provinces in the Mekong Delta, because when goods arrive at this station, they will be checked for food safety and hygiene and complete customs procedures. This helps cut costs, minimize risks for businesses, and create opportunities for provinces in the region to boost exports of goods, including agricultural products.

Science and technology make contribution

In 2022, the Provincial Department of Science and Technology organized the acceptance and the Acceptance Council approved the Project "Research on building strategies and policies for sustainable development of the logistics system in Binh Duong province to 2030, with a vision to 2050" (referred to as the project). According to Associate Professor - Doctor Ho Thi Thu Hoa, Director of the Vietnam Logistics Research Institute, Head of the project, the project has gathered theoretical foundations on sustainable logistics systems; analyzed the current situation and built forecasts to serve as a basis for proposing solutions and policy mechanisms. The topic can be used as a reference for other provinces and cities while preparing to implement logistics development topics, thereby enhancing regional and interdisciplinary connectivity in the logistics sector.

Dr. Nguyen Viet Long, Director of the Department of Science and Technology, said that the proposed contents of the project have been applied by the Department of Industry and Trade to the draft plan for developing logistics services in Binh Duong province until 2025, with a vision to 2030 and a vision to 2045, to be submitted to the Provincial People's Committee for approval. In addition, from the orientations of the topic, the Department of Industry and Trade has applied and proposed to include "Task 6 - Research on transport and logistics development plan" in the Provincial Planning.

Through the research results, the project has developed strategies and policies for sustainable development of the logistics system in Binh Duong province. Logistics service enterprises and shippers can refer to and apply the proposals and solutions of the topic to their business operations, contributing to improving the quality of logistics services in the province and increasing the outsourcing of logistics services from shippers. According to the assessment of the Department of Industry and Trade, the project has proposed specific policies and solutions for the sustainable development of the logistics system in Binh Duong province; at the same time, it has proposed potential logistics center locations, focusing on assessing the environmental impact on the formation and development of logistics centers as well as traffic and transport infrastructure, thereby contributing to the state management agencies having a basis for making appropriate decisions.

Reported by P.Le, Q.Tri - Translated by Ngoc Huynh