The port expects to increase its cargo handling capacity to around 16 million-17 million tonnes by 2010.

The People's Committee of central province Ha Tinh will cooperate with the Ministry of Communications and Transport to construct Pier 2 of Vung Ang Port in Ky Anh district in the fourth quarter of 2004 with an investment capital of VN447 billion ($28.47 million).

The Saigon Port authority had nothing but praise for Klaus Kuhn, a German shipping expert who worked at the port under the United Nationas Volunteers (UNV) Programme."During his month's work here, Kuhn provided advice and consulting services for marketing and development policies. His final report was very good and will be used in our development plan for the port," said Saigon Port General Director, Le Cong Minh, during a meeting with the UNV Programme Vietnam last week.

Saigon Port has sister relationship with Bintulu. Seaport officials of Vietnam and member countries of the ASEAN Ports Association are meeting to exchange experiences on seaport development cooperation at a two-day seminar set for closing today in HCMC.

Vietnamese companies are eager to develop Van Phong Bay in Khanh Hoa Province into a regional transit port.

The deep-water Vung Ro Port, in the central province of Phu Yen, began operating on June 17, allowing ships to enter and leave the sea area under the port authority.

The Ministry of Transport and Communication and the central province of Ha Tinh plans to start construction of the wharf No. 2 at Vung Ang port in Ky Anh district in the fourth quarter of this year with a total investment of 477 billion VND, including 367 billion VND for construction work and 110 billion VND for equipment.

Saigon Newport Co. has purchased two Kalmar Reachstacker forklifts of the new version DRF for container handling at Cat Lai Port in HCMC's District 2.

The Government has approved the feasibility study for the project of building Cai Mep-Thi Vai Port complex in Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province, which is envisioned as the largest deep-water port in the south in the next 10 years.

The transport minister came under fire over Viet Nam's appalling road safety and lack of co-ordination in the transport system at Thursday's National Assembly question-and-answer session.