Association members join a photo session at the Asia-Pacific Regional Annual Meeting of the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA) and the mid-year meeting of the ASEAN Freight Forwarders Association (AFFA) in Đà Nẵng City. VNS Photo Công Thành

ĐÀ NẴNG — Việt Nam's logistics market grew from 14 to 16 per cent with a total import-export turnover of US$730 billion in 2022. The country expects to be a new logistics centre in the Asia Pacific region, creating an effective transport network for domestic and international markets in the future.

The comments were made by Vice Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyễn Sinh Nhật Tân at the Asia-Pacific Regional Annual Meeting of the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA) and again at the mid-year meeting of the ASEAN Freight Forwarders Association (AFFA) in the central city on July 14.

He said the Government and ministries have been improving solutions to reduce logistics costs and create favourable conditions for sustainable development of the industry.

“In the context of the difficulties the world logistics service industry has been facing, the meetings of FIATA and AFFA offered a valuable opportunity to Việt Nam in connecting partners and businesses and exchanging experience and ties in the growing industry,” said Tân.

“FIATA is an important link for the Việt Nam Logistics Association in cooperating with the world associations and communities. The Prime Minister highly appreciated the contributions of FIATA and AFFA in the development of Việt Nam’s logistics service in a working visit in Hà Nội,” he said.

A giant crane loads a container in Tiên Sa Port in Đà Nẵng City. Việt Nam has eyes on developing it as a new logistics centre in the Asia Pacific. VNS Photo Công Thành

He added the conferences of FIATA and AFFA would open up chances to promote import and export growth as well as improve competitiveness for businesses in Việt Nam and the region.

President of FIATA, Ivan Petrov emphasised the trend of the structure of the global logistics service and freight forwarders associations – digital transformation, e-commerce and last-mile delivery and cross-border trade.

He suggested members should keep an eye on developments in electronic documents, artificial intelligence, internet of things (IoT), and the rapid growth of e-commerce, all of which need improved infrastructure, automated processes and innovative delivery solutions.

He said cross-border trade requires improved trade facilitation and regional integration.

Chairman of AFFA Yukki Nugrahawan Hanafi said the annual meeting of FIATA and AFFA aimed to boost cooperation and partnerships among associations during the crisis of the world economy and logistics industry.

He said big logistics service providers in the world gathered in the meeting to discuss solutions for boosting links and sharing experiences.

Việt Nam played an important role in the centre of the meetings and Đà Nẵng was chosen as the most favourable location for the event, he said.

Alex Marcias, an associate expert of the transport division under the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) introduced three pillars of ESCAP’s transport work including a platform for intergovernmental cooperation and policy dialogue; a comprehensive capacity-building programme, and analytical work and data collection.

He also said the ongoing projects must enhance the energy efficiency of the freight transport sector in Asia and the Pacific, as well as support policies on green and resilient transport infrastructure along the Asian network.

He added that improving the safety of navigation and sustainability of shipping through introducing innovative autonomous shipping technologies in the Asia-Pacific region, as well as leveraging the Trans-Asia railway network, would build more efficient and resilient transport connectivity and logistics in ASEAN and beyond.

It requires regional cooperation and the advancement of policies on sustainable maritime connectivity in the Asia Pacific in 2023, he said.

Chairman of Việt Nam Logistics Association, Lê Duy Hiệp said the annual meeting has helped bring together global and regional freight forwarders to discuss the highlights of the logistics and transportation industry in Asia, and the latest trends and best practices in the freight forwarding sector in 2023.

It’s also a chance for leading freight forwarders from Asia to focus on the implementation of sustainable development goals in the region, he said.

He added more than 100 businesses joined and partook in a field trip to Đà Nẵng’s Tiên Sa Port and explored the city's air logistics service.

Đà Nẵng, the host of the conferences, plans to develop as an international-standard logistics centre for Việt Nam, ASEAN and the Asia Pacific region by 2030.

According to the World Bank, Việt Nam ranks 43rd in the logistics performance index and is in the top five in ASEAN.