After going public, Da Nang Port has made steady development and adopted many right strategies, clearly expressed by the optimistic business performance chart. Could you please tell us more about this?

After going public, with the persistent effort of the leadership and the staff, Da Nang Port has affirmed its brand on the Vietnam maritime map. Facing the containerization trend in ocean transport, the management of Da Nang Port quickly focused its development strategy on container services and regarded container freights as a key business, thus gradually building it as the largest and most modern container terminal in the central region. Besides, the port seriously developed services relating to containers, passenger ships and large cargo vessels. This is also considered a core element, one of key spearheads to create difference in identity and assert its position.

In 2015 - 2023, the cargo throughput increased by an average of 12% a year

In 2015 - 2023, the cargo throughput increased by an average of 12% a year (with container goods rising by 15%), the revenue expanded by 12% and the pre-tax profit climbed 11%. Particularly, in 2021, despite being severely hit by the Covid-19 pandemic, the port excellently surpassed its VND1,000-billion revenue milestone. In 2023, its total revenue surged 244.65% from that in2015; the pre-tax profit soared 244.65% from 2015 to VND345.221 billion; the cargo throughput rocketed 190.58% from 2015 to 12.20 million tons, of which container output leaped 254.75% from 2015 and accounted for more than 75% of the cargo throughput.

On the value creation journey, what achievement makes Da Nang Port proudest to date?

Da Nang Port is the only port of its type under Vietnam Maritime Corporation - Joint Stock Company (VIMC) to be named the Outstanding Business for Employees for six consecutive years to date. The average income of an employee increases year by year, reaching VND28 million a month in 2023. Vacation tours and other welfare benefits are fully implemented for employees. Da Nang Port was also on the list of Top 10 innovative and effective logistics businesses in 2023 and won the “Corporate Sustainability Index” Award (CSI) from the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI). In 2023, it was honored to be awarded the flag for “Excellent business in the emulation movement in 2023” by the State Capital Management Committee. The General Director of Da Nang Port was presented the “Lighthouse 2023” title by VIMC to recognize his outstanding work performance assigned by VIMC and adopt digital transformation, innovations and business optimization solutions. Da Nang Port ranked 8th among Top 10 taxpayers in Da Nang City and 750th among 1,000 largest taxpayers in Vietnam. The Party Committee of Da Nang Port has been recognized and ranked for excellent work performance by the Da Nang Party Committee and the VIMC Party Committee for many years. The Trade Union and the Youth Union are always highly appreciated by superiors and awarded many trophies.

Da Nang Port has increasingly proven its important role in the socioeconomic development of both Da Nang City and the central region, making a significant contribution to the development of the East-West Economic Corridor. These achievements come from the leadership and direction of the Board of Directors, the creativity and determination of the Executive Board, and the solidarity and consensus of all employees and political organizations in the company.

Indeed, these are proud "trophies" of Da Nang Port. We are never complacent about what we have made but we must see them as driving forces to work harder. If we "sleep" on today's success, it means we are choosing a failed outcome in the future.

To improve operational capacity and competitiveness of cargo transportation, what solutions has Da Nang Port taken?

Da Nang City is blessed with a lot of advantages. If we tap them well, we will have many opportunities to "go far". To stand firmly in this potential market, Da Nang Port determines to focus on core activities as usual by investing in upgrading Tien Sa Port infrastructure, building a 20ha depot area in Hoa Vang district to become a logistics center of the Central Coast and the Central Highlands. In the long-term strategy, building and developing two main ports, Tien Sa Port and Lien Chieu Port, along with the logistics center, Da Nang Port strives to be the logistics coordination and service center of the Central region and the East-West Economic Corridor.

In the coming time, when the economy grows strongly again, the demand for commodity distribution in the region will increase as a result. In addition to providing seaport services, Da Nang Port will embark on road transport. We will continue to regularly approach customers in the province, in the region and in the East - West Economic Corridor. We will focus on retaining traditional customers, developing new customers, completing all business, revenue and profit tasks, and applying preferential price policies for special customers to boost cargo throughput.

We will continue successful digital transformation in previous years such as ePort electronic port software and AutoGate automatic container gate, which won the third prize of the Vietnam Science and Technology Innovation Award 2021. In 2024, Da Nang Port will continue to use ePORT electronic port software for retail customers of CFS warehouse, provide online services for customers to completely transform offline port services to online port services. Moreover, the company will equip the eCps automatic vehicle system for container cranes at wharfs and in yards and deploy eMap Digital Map for container transit vehicles in the port.

On this occasion, do you have any recommendations to the local seaport and logistics industry?

Da Nang City is striving to quickly return to the Top 3 in the Provincial Competitiveness Index in 2024 and continue to elevate its position in the following years. As a business in the city, I personally see that the city has a hard-nut-to-crack matter: a very high land rent undermines the competitiveness in investment attraction and business performance of local companies.

Formed more than a century ago, with “Integrity - Discipline - Creativity - Professionalism and Respect for individuals” values and “Performance - Quality - Efficiency” approaches, Da Nang Port is committed to satisfying customers' needs by providing better services, simplifying procedures and focusing on their practical benefits as its ultimate philosophy “Connection for prosperity" it set.

Thank you so much!