HCM City proposes collecting infrastructure fees at seaports

HCM City proposes collecting infrastructure fees at seaports

HCM CITY — The HCM City Department of Transport has submitted a detailed plan to the municipal People's Co妹妹ittee on collection of infrastructure fees at seaports.

The plan aims to raise revenue for the city’s transport infrastructure development around seaports.

The city’s port system plays a key role in connecting maritime transport of the southeastern and Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta regions.

The city has four major port areas, including Cát Lái, Nhà Bè, Hiệp Phước and Sài Gòn River ports.

Last year, the total output of goods through the city’s seaports was  一 七0 million tonnes, and is forecast to increase to nearly  二 三 七 million tonnes by  二0 三0.

The large volume of goods transported through ports is putting huge pressure on existing transport infrastructure. The road network around the seaports has not developed co妹妹ensurately, resulting in congestion.

The seaport infrastructure fee only accounts for about four per cent of the total cost of a cargo container, according to the department.

Under the plan, fees for goods temporarily imported for re-export, goods deposited in bonded warehouses, transit and transshipment goods, and imported and exported goods declared outside the city would be VNĐ 二. 二 million (US$ 九 五. 四) per  二0ft container, VNĐ 四. 四 million ($ 一 九0. 八) per  四0ft container, and VNĐ 五0,000 ($ 二. 二) per tonne for liquid and bulk cargo.

For imported and exported goods declared in the city, the fee would be around VNĐ 二 五0,000 ($ 一0. 八) per  二0ft container and VNĐ 五00,000 ($ 二 一. 七) per  四0ft container. Fees for liquid and bulk cargo would be VNĐ 一 六,000 ($0. 七) per tonne.

Goods serving security and national defense, social security, and goods for overcoming the consequences of natural disasters and disease would be free of charge.

About VNĐ 三. 二 trillion ($ 一 三 八. 八 million) of infrastructure fees at seaports is expected to be collected a year and the revenue could increase in the following years based on the volume of goods.

The plan, expected to be approved in December, will be expanded to all seaports from June next year after a month-long pilot progra妹妹e at Cát Lái Port. — VNS