Hai Phong considers reducing seaport fees

The leaders of Hai Phong city said that they are collecting opinions from a number of associations in order to submit them to the municipal People's Council as they consider reducing fees for using infrastructure, service facilities and public utilities at ports in the city.

          
Hai Phong considers revising and adjusting fees for using infrastructure, service facilities and public utilities at seaports

Le Van Thanh, Secretary of Hai Phong municipal Party Committee and Chairman of the municipal People's Council, said at the working session with the Prime Minister Working Group on September 19 that the municipal People's Committee are collecting opinions from four associations and other relevant agencies to revise and adjust fees for using infrastructure, service facilities and public utilities at seaports in Hai Phong.

The four associations include the Vietnam Automobile Transport Association, Vietnam Logistics Association, Vietnam Textile and Garment Association and Vietnam Seaports Association.

According to Thanh, the adjustments in seaport charge rates will be included in the meeting of the municipal People's Council, scheduled for December 2017, for consideration and approval.

The Secretary of Hai Phong Party Committee also stressed that the fees for import-export goods stored in 20ft shipping container (VND250,000 per container) and in 40ft shipping container (VND500,000 per container) are currently at a reasonable rate.

Regarding liquid and bulk cargo, the fees are proposed to be reduced from VND20,000 per tonne to VND16,000 per tonne.

Thanh said that the fees for import and export goods at ports in Hai Phong are equal to just 50% of the fees for 20ft shipping container and 62.5% of the fees for 40ft shipping container applied at border gates in Lao Cai and Lang Son.

According to the Hai Phong municipal People's Committee, after eight months of collecting fees for seaport infrastructure use, 617 businesses are falling into arrears worth approximately VND45.7 billion (US$2.01 million).

At the working session with the Prime Minister Working Group, a representative from the Vietnam Textile and Garment Association said that the implementation of seaport infrastructure fees in Hai Phong was carried out too quickly, without collecting opinions and considering its influence, making it difficult for enterprises to respond.

The representative suggested that Hai Phong quickly considers reducing fees to facilitate enterprises in accordance with the guidance from the Prime Minister.

Do Hoang Anh Tuan, Deputy Minister of Finance, also proposed that Hai Phong considers reducing the fees for import and export goods from 25-50% compared to the current levels to support domestic enterprises.

Theo NDO

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