Cargo transportation’s strategic moves

In the complex context, disadvantages due to some major global conflicts have been and are taking place, calculating the pathway for import and export goods is a strategic step that is receiving attention from investors and business community in the province.

Investing in developing various types of goods transportation will contribute to building the province with standardized logistics centers. In the photo: Goods transportation at ICD Song Than 2

Pricing of logistics eased

The shipment of goods by rail of Vietnam Railway Corporation (VNR) at Song Than station in the days after the Lunar New Year 2024 has created new expectations for the business community regarding reducing transportation costs, promoting smooth circulation of goods. On exchanging with us, Mr. Nguyen Quang Sang, Secretary of the provincial Logistics Association, said that currently, the majority of businesses are on road and river transportation as the method of transporting goods. The method of transporting goods through the international multimodal transport station of Song Than will have outstanding advantages, especially in terms of transportation costs.

However, according to Mr. Nguyen Quang Sang, it is time for the railway industry as well as businesses, associations to further enhance the exchange of information on routes, transportation services, have appropriate preferential pricing policies when there are long-term and large-scale transportation orders. This is to ensure that the transportation capacity is fully utilized, there are no idle train cars waiting or wasting resources, not only for the agricultural sector but also for the province's key industries.

Ms. Truong Thi Thuy Lien, Vice Chairwoman of the Binh Duong Footwear Association, believed that choosing the railway channel for export to China also opened up opportunities to boost exports to Central Asian and European countries through multimodal railway routes. Especially in the context where sea transportation is facing many risks and escalating freight rates, diversifying transportation routes will help businesses minimize risks. Ms. Truong Thi Thuy Lien also expressed her desire to receive more information about the railway transportation method, comparing the advantages of this method in terms of cost, convenience in circulating goods.

From the perspective of a logistics company, Mr. Le Manh Ha, Director of TBS Logistics, believed while saying: "The issue that businesses are currently concerned about is the cost of transportation by rail. Building transportation costs must be based on the actual situation of each business. Connecting with other transportation methods to create the most favorable conditions for customers is also implemented by the company."

Confirmation of the issue of connecting railway transportation is receiving great attention from the business community. Mr. Nguyen Thanh Binh, Deputy Director of the Provincial Customs Department, said that promoting the import and export of goods through the international multimodal station of Song Than is being considered by businesses as an additional method to choose transportation, reduce costs, shorten delivery times, and ensure safety.

The vision

Binh Duong identifies sustainable logistics development as the foundation to help the province become a center of industry, trade, services, and smart urban areas. The province strives to realize the determination to become a satellite center, a place for gathering goods and logistics services, while forming a supply chain, promoting distribution, exporting abroad, creating regional-scale logistics centers on the territory. Binh Duong is researching and deploying the most complete intra-provincial railway route.

Specifically, the province is selecting consultants to study the feasibility of a large-scale railway project connecting 5 urban areas within the province. This railway project starts from Bau Bang station to An Binh station, passing through Bau Bang district, Ben Cat town, Tan Uyen city, Thuan An city, and Di An city. This intra-provincial railway line has a length of 52.2km, with 6 stations: An Binh, Binh Chuan, Binh Duong, Chanh Luu, Tan Hung, Bau Bang, and 4 passenger stops including Tan Binh, An Phu, Tan Vinh Hiep, Hoa Loi. The center of Bau Bang district is the starting point of the Binh Duong railway connecting Ba Ria - Vung Tau.

Not only do they build the railway connecting urban areas within the province, the leaders of Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai, and Binh Duong have agreed to extend the Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien Metro line to Bien Hoa city in Dong Nai province and Thu Dau Mot city in Binh Duong province. The branch to Binh Duong is nearly 30km long, built elevated, from the Binh Chuan interchange to Ben Cat town, Tan Uyen city, and Thu Dau Mot city.

Binh Duong has also planned to invest over 34,000 billion VND in a railway line connecting with Ba Ria - Vung Tau. To implement this railway line, recently the People's Committee of Binh Duong province has assigned the Project Management Board for investment in construction of provincial transportation infrastructure to coordinate with departments and sectors to study and prepare a feasibility report for the railway project from Bau Bang district to Di An city to connect the railway from Di An city to Bien Hoa city of Dong Nai province - the intersection has a 83km long high-speed line from Bien Hoa to Vung Tau, whose final stop is Cai Mep – Thi Vai port.

Reported by Tieu My – Cam Tu – Translated by Vi Bao