THE HANOI TIMES — Danish logistics and shipping giant Maersk exploring opportunities to invest in and develop large, green, low-carbon container ports in Vietnam, according to Vincent Clerc, CEO of A.P. Moller–Maersk.

At a meeting with Party General Secretary To Lam on November 18, Clerc said the company is interested in developing modern, sustainable container ports and strategic logistics projects in Vietnam.

He said such investments would help Vietnam expand import–export capacity, support its low-carbon economic transition, strengthen climate resilience and accelerate progress toward its net-zero emissions target.

Clerc praised Vietnam’s economic achievements despite global challenges and described the country as an important regional and global partner.

“We see tremendous potential and many opportunities and we hope to contribute even more to Vietnam’s development,” said Clerc.

He provided updates on Maersk’s operations and partnerships in Vietnam, along with the company’s ongoing strategic transformation aimed at connecting Vietnam with major global production and logistics hubs, thereby strengthening the country’s integration into global supply chains.

General Secretary To Lam welcomed Maersk’s investment plans for developing green, smart port infrastructure and logistics services.

He said Vietnam is giving priority to infrastructure upgrades, including green port development, to support sustainable growth.

Lam encouraged Maersk to expand investments in the maritime economy and stressed that Vietnam stands ready to facilitate logistics projects by foreign investors.

"Vietnam now ranks among the world’s top 20 economies in international trade volume. The government is accelerating efforts to build a modern and seamless national transport infrastructure network to enhance economic competitiveness," said Lam.

He said the Comprehensive Partnership signed in 2013 and the Green Strategic Partnership signed in 2023 between Vietnam and Denmark provide strong momentum for cooperation aligned with global trends toward green and sustainable development.

Data from the Vietnam Logistics Report 2024 by the Ministry of Industry and Trade shows that the logistics sector contributes around 4%–5% of GDP, with average annual growth of 14%–16% during 2018–2023.

Logistics infrastructure has expanded and modernized with more than 30,000 modern warehouses and six new first-tier logistics centers. These additions improve transport and distribution efficiency and create momentum for forming stronger logistics supply chains.

According to the Vietnam Seaports Association, seaports nationwide handled more than 22 million TEUs in 2024 and this volume is expected to increase steadily.

A key factor that increases the value of Vietnam’s port network is its close connection with major industrial parks and export zones, which allows goods to reach international markets quickly and at lower costs.

Ho Chi Minh City Port, Haiphong Port and Cai Mep Port are among the world’s 100 busiest container ports on the Lloyd’s 2025 rankings.