Could you give a brief description on this project?

 

This project is comprised of an international port and an industrial park, port service facilities, all covering 1,935ha in Tan Lap commune, Can Giuoc district, Long An province. Located 14km from the South China Sea and stretching over 2.600m along the Soai Rap River, the Long An International Port will be linked with the Ho Chi Minh City - Kien Luong and Ho Chi Minh City - Ca Mau shipping lines to facilitate marine transportation within Vietnam as well as between Vietnam and the world.

 

What is the handling capacity of the port?

 

The Long An International Port will have a 1.7km long wharf and be capable to receive 30,000-70,000DWT ships. This project is implemented in three stages from 2010 to 2020. The first stage is proposed to finish in 2013 with loading/unloading capacity of about 2.5 million tonnes per year. The second stage will finish by 2015 to increase the loading/unloading capacity to 9.3 million tonnes per year, and the third stage will end by 2020 to increase the loading/unloading capacity to 15 million tonnes per year.

 

Dong Tam has for a long time been known as a reputable manufacturer of facing tiles, decorative paints, roofing tiles, corrugated iron and plastic doors. Could you say about the groups position as a port investor?

 

We are investors and we invest in feasible projects. For the past years, we have done research and carried out field studies as well as visited many seaports in Vietnam and abroad. We have a team of experienced port experts and consultants. As an investor of the Long An International Port, our projection is to put part of the project into operation by 2013 and finish the entire project by 2020.

 

Why has Dong Tam chosen this time to invest in the project and what benefits will the port bring?

 

The Long An International Port is listed among Category-5 ports in the Plan to Develop Vietnamese Seaports to 2020 with a vision for 2050 that has been approved by the Government. Investment in the construction of infrastructure for the port is US$1 billion and this does not include investment in the industrial park and storage facilities that will be built in the ports area. Now we invest in the port to prepare for 2020 when the economy will develop at a larger size and many companies will invest in the industrial park here, which will increase the demand for using the Long An Port as well as on-site storage facilities and logistic services. If we do not invest in the port now but later, we will not be able to meet the demand of those companies.

When it comes into operation, the Long An International Port will contribute considerably to boosting import, export activities of Long An province as well as other localities in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta. To facilitate waterway transport, small wharfs will be built and more jobs will be generated for local people. Businesses will have more opportunities to invest in cultural, healthcare and tourism services.

Developing waterway transport will help reduce traffic jams and accidents on land routes as well as protect the surface of roads.

 

Could you say about logistic service facilities that will be built around the port?

 

Logistic service and specialized storage facilities will be built on more than 300ha and an industrial park will be built on more than 1,000ha. Construction will last for 10 years. In the same time period, an urban area will also be built to serve experts and workers who are to work in this area.