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Handling cargoes at Quy Nhon Port |
At a Greater Mekong Sub-region meeting that took place nearly a decade ago in Chiang Mai (Thailand), it was said that Quy Nhon Port in Vietnam would someday become a major seaport, the starting point for goods that will be transported along the trans-Asia road to Pleiku, Kon Tum, Pakse (Laos) and on to Ubonrachathani in Thailand. That road is to intersect another road that is to run between Malaysia and Thailand, passing through Singapore on the way. Vietnamese authorities referred to Quy Nhon as a gateway to the Eastern Sea in their 2006-2015 Mekong sub-region transport strategy. Seaports were again referred to in regards to the economic development of Binh Dinh province at the third Greater Mekong Sub-region Summit (GSM) that took place March 30-31, 2008, in Vientiane (Laos). A 2006-2010 Mekong sub-region transport strategy was approved at that time by GSM. Accordingly, there are to be nine economic corridors within the Mekong sub-region (in previously plans there were to be three), several of which are to link the Mekong sub-region with India. Apart from the existing three gateways to the Eastern Sea (Ho Chi Minh City, Hai Phong and Da Nang) there are to be two new ones: Quy Nhon and Thanh Hoa.
Quy Nhon Port is an important commercial port in south-central Vietnam and it's an engine for economic growth in the central province of Binh Dinh because most of the province's exports go out through this port. They exceeded US$320 million in 2007, the provinces 100 export businesses calling this 'swimming out into the deep sea'. Binh Dinh Province People's Committee chairman Vu Hoang Ha said, "The ports of Quy Nhon and Nhon Hoi are critical in the development of the Nhon Hoi Economic Zone. They are the gateway for Binh Dinh and also for the entire Central Highlands region."
With more than three million tonnes of goods passing through Quy Nhon Port in 2007, last year was a good year. The port is being upgraded with cutting-edge equipment and it is to be able to handle four million tonnes of goods per year by 2010. Port director Nguyen Tin Dan said that a project has been approved to upgraded Quy Nhon Port by 2010 under which the port authority is to build sn internal road network, a dock that can accept 30,00DWT ships and a 50,000 sq.m holding yard. Ships are to have access to electricity and water and be able to off-load waste, the work space is to be enlarged by 45,000 sq.m, a new 1,500 hp tugboat and a 100-tone movable bridge crane are to be obtained, a 250 m-long and 40 m-wide berth is to be built that can load and off-load containers from 30,000 DWT ships, and there's to be an 80,000 sq.m container holding yard.
The central region has immense potential for shipping development. Seaports could provide an impetus for industrial zone and economic zone development, and spur new urban development. Deep-water ports have been associated with new urban and economic zones like Dung Quat, Chan May, and Nhon Hoi which have registered capital totaling US$10 billion.
Economists expect that some 28 million people will be living along the East West Economic Corridor by 2010. This includes parts of central provinces in Vietnam, southern Laotian provinces, northeastern Cambodian provinces and northeastern Thai provinces. Machinery, equipment, building materials and various commodities that will cost about US$6-7 billion will need to be imported by 2010, and most of this will need to come in through the Da Nang and Quy Nhon ports. To seize upon this opportunity, construction on the international Gemadept Nhon Hoi Port began in late 2007 in the Nhon Hoi Economic Zone. The most important marine infrastructure project to be built in Binh Dinh province, the first phase of port construction is to require VND1.197 trillion to make it accessible to 30,000DWT ships. Covering 119 ha area, the port will include berths and a logistics area and is to be operational by 2010. At that time the port is to be able to handle two million tonnes of cargo per year. The second phase of construction is to take place from 2010-2020 and ten berths that can service container and cargo ships are to be built during that time. There is to be a total of 2,117m of berth space covering 59 ha that are to be to handle 9.5 million tonnes of goods per year.
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