Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha hosts a reception for Rodolphe Saadé, Chairman and CEO of the CMA-CGM Group, May 27. (Source: VNA)

He encouraged the group to tap into the potential of inland waterway transport, closely linked with innovation and technology transfer during his meeting on May 27 with Rodolphe Saadé, Chairman and CEO of the CMA-CGM Group, a leading French shipping and logistics corporation.

The Deputy PM affirmed that Vietnam always attaches great importance to, and is committed to further strengthening, the Vietnam–France Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in general, and cooperation between Vietnam and the CMA-CGM Group in particular.

Appreciating the Group’s operations in Vietnam in recent years, he noted that Southeast Asia and Asia as a whole are becoming dynamic manufacturing hubs, leading to a growing demand for cargo transport. In that context, CMA-CGM’s investments in Vietnam’s seaport infrastructure align with the country’s maritime economic development strategy, which requires modern port infrastructure as a core condition.

Vietnam has developed a national master plan for its seaport system with the ambition to establish shipbuilding centres, green ports, and a fleet capable of regional reach. Several ports, such as Cai Mep – Thi Vai, Can Gio, and Ca Mau, have been designated as international transshipment hubs to leverage Vietnam’s favourable geographical location for connection with global shipping routes. Many newly established or recently operational deepwater ports in central Vietnam still hold substantial potential and require effective development planning.

Investing in green and smart seaports will create new competitive advantages for port and logistics enterprises like CMA-CGM, particularly as global regulations on CO2 emissions and carbon taxes become increasingly stringent, Ha noted.

He reaffirmed Vietnam’s commitment to maintaining an open, attractive, and equitable investment environment for all enterprises, especially those with international experience, capacity, and reputation in the seaport and logistics sectors.

Regarding CMA-CGM’s electric barge project, the Deputy PM emphasised the Government’s priority to encourage enterprises to develop integrated value chains, from research, technology transfer, and supporting industries to the production of equipment and vehicles for logistics and maritime transport infrastructure, thereby creating sustainable value and long-term benefits for both businesses and the national economy.

Saadé, for his part, expressed his strong impression of Vietnam’s socio-economic development and outlined some key outcomes of the Group’s cooperation in the transport and logistics sectors over its 30-year presence in the country.

He also expressed his hope that the Vietnamese Government will continue to create favourable conditions for foreign enterprises, including CMA-CGM, to expand their footprint and contribute to local socio-economic development. He said CMA-CGM wishes to support Vietnam’s maritime services in expanding globally, while also leveraging the country’s export advantages to reach markets across Asia and beyond.

Present in 160 countries with nearly 300 shipping routes, CMA-CGM is promoting the implementation of its electric barge project, initially along Vietnam’s inland waterways, to maximise the efficiency of multimodal transport, including sea, inland waterway, road, and rail networks.