River transport: Key driver for the development of logistics industry

Binh Duong benefits from a well-connected road traffic system that links river and sea ports. This network enhances the development of river transport along the Saigon and Dong Nai rivers, providing access to Cai Mep - Thi Vai port and facilitating the transport of export goods. River transport plays a crucial role in the growth of the logistics industry, helping to reduce transportation costs for businesses and creating competitive advantages in the export market.

 Unlocking potential

Binh Duong is traversed by major rivers like the Saigon, Dong Nai, and Thi Tinh, which facilitates inland waterway transport. Notably, this river system connects Binh Duong with neighboring provinces and cities and major seaports such as Cat Lai, Cai Mep - Thi Vai, helping to transport goods conveniently, reducing costs for businesses and the logistics industry, creating a competitive advantage for products in the market.

Binh Duong has acknowledged the significance of river transport and has therefore planned and invested in the upgrading and expansion of river ports in the area to enhance the movement of goods. This development provides the logistics industry with more options for transporting goods to seaports, which contributes to making Binh Duong a key transit hub for goods in the Southeast region. Mr. Nguyen Chi Hieu, Deputy Director of Provincial Department of Construction, said that river transport plays an important role in developing a multimodal logistics system, helping to optimize the supply chain and reduce logistics costs. Binh Duong is allocating resources and engaging in social initiatives to build and upgrade the scale of river ports along inland waterways in a modern direction. This development aims to connect integrated logistics centers, thereby enhancing the efficiency of logistics operations. This is also a solution to help reduce road traffic and traffic congestion...

“River transport helps reduce pressure on the province's roadway system, which is overloaded due to rapid industrial development and urbanization. River transport is often cheaper than road transport, helping businesses save on logistics costs. The river system in the province also helps connect with neighboring provinces and cities and major seaports, creating favorable conditions for trade and transportation of goods," Mr. Nguyen Chi Hieu shared.

Investing and effectively exploiting river ports

Provincial People's Committee has recently approved the investment policy for the construction of An Tay General Port in Ben Cat City. The project will cover an area of over 97 hectares and has a total investment of more than 5,621 billion VND, with a projected capacity of 7 million tons per year. An Tay General Port is planned and designed to facilitate container transportation, thereby connecting Binh Duong with major seaports. The port can accommodate container ships of about 3,000 tons, helping to transport goods by inland waterway on the Saigon River. Along with that, the approval of the planning for the construction of Rach Bap dry port and An Dien dry port will become a transit point for goods on Saigon River, helping to reduce the load on roads and optimize logistics costs.

Mr. Nguyen Trong An, Chairman of Ben Cat City People's Committee, said that An Tay general port and An Dien dry port projects will be connected to Ho Chi Minh City Ring Road 4. These projects will contribute to reducing logistics costs for businesses, attracting import and export goods of businesses in Binh Phuoc and Tay Ninh provinces through the port. Thereby improving regional and national competitiveness, reducing the amount of goods transported by road, reducing the time for businesses to carry out customs procedures...

Recently, leaders from Binh Duong province and Ho Chi Minh City held a meeting and agreed to raise the clearance of the Binh Trieu 1 bridge. This enhancement aims to facilitate the transportation of goods from the port on the Saigon River to the major export-serving ports. Additionally, the two localities are collaborating to determine locations for constructing connecting bridges along the Saigon River to further support river transport activities.

Also on the Saigon River, An Son Port (Thuan An City) with an area of over 30 hectares is capable of receiving ships and barges with a capacity of 1,000 - 2,200 tons. An Son Port plays an important role as a cargo transit point, connecting Binh Duong province with major seaports such as Cat Lai and Cai Mep - Thi Vai. Recently, Provincial People's Committee has also mobilized social investment in building a road connecting An Son port with Ho Chi Minh City Ring Road 3. Accordingly, it is expected that investors will spend 600 billion VND to build this route.

Meanwhile, on the Dong Nai River basin, there is Thanh Phuoc dry port located on the Dak Nong - Binh Phuoc - Ho Chi Minh City transport corridor, connecting with DT 747A road, National Highway 13 and Dong Nai River inland waterway. Thanh Phuoc Port has a cargo handling capacity of 5 million tons/year, with an expected operating capacity of 100,000 - 170,000 TEU/year by 2030.

River transport plays a crucial role in Binh Duong's development of the logistics industry, aiding economic growth and boosting business competitiveness. By investing in and effectively utilizing the potential of river transport, significant benefits can be realized for both businesses and the community. With continued investment and development efforts, we believe that river transport will greatly contribute to the economic advancement of Binh Duong and the surrounding region.

 Reported by Minh Duy 

 Translated by Ngoc Huynh