[LMS2024][Ba Ria - Vung Tau] Foreign trade sector: Seminar "Logistics infrastructure: New requirements in developing strategy and legal framework"

Starting the seminar, Mr. Trần Thanh Hải, Deputy Director of the Import-Export Department (Ministry of Industry and Trade), and Honorary President of the Vietnam Logistics Human Resources Development Association, delivered a presentation titled "Logistics Infrastructure and its Impact on Supply Chains." He discussed how supply chain shifts, epidemics, natural disasters, and increasing attention to "green" policies in many countries are forcing businesses not only to meet green production criteria but also to “green” their entire supply chain, aiming for the goal of "net zero." As a key link in the development of logistics systems, Mr. Hải emphasized that the infrastructure must be invested in a synchronized and professional manner.

Continuing the seminar, Dr. Nguyễn Thắng Lợi, Head of Research and Consulting at the Vietnam Logistics Research and Development Institute (VLI), discussed the establishment of logistics infrastructure to meet green transformation demands in the current context. He noted that countries globally have committed to reducing net emissions and transitioning to renewable energy to protect the environment and cut costs. This presents a challenge for many industries, including logistics, where the trend towards green logistics is becoming an inevitable requirement for countries and businesses in Vietnam. Mr. Lợi emphasized that to develop green logistics, four basic foundations must be focused on: (i) infrastructure and technology; (ii) human resource development; (iii) shippers; and (iv) logistics service providers, all under the guidance of legal and policy frameworks promoting "greening." He highlighted that successful greening depends largely on businesses, particularly their personnel and awareness, but infrastructure also plays a critical supporting role. Only with standardized warehouses, technological advancements, and green transportation can the greening process be optimized. In Bà Rịa - Vũng Tàu, he commended many businesses for their awareness of the importance of improving processes and greening their logistics operations, and he also proposed several solutions to improve logistics infrastructure in the future, such as: (i) researching and establishing a legal framework for logistics activities aimed at sustainable development; (ii) enhancing the connectivity between the government, enterprises, and researchers in certain green development projects; and (iii) improving logistics infrastructure (warehouses and transportation) by specializing certain processes.

From a legal perspective, Mr. Đặng Việt Anh, Managing Partner of ANHISA, Arbitrator of the Vietnam International Arbitration Centre (VIAC), and Mediator at the Vietnam Mediation Centre (VMC), shared his insights on the legal framework and its impact on logistics real estate infrastructure. Mr. Viet Anh listed various logistics services, including storage, delivery, and transportation, which all require infrastructure development. Observing other countries such as Hong Kong and Singapore, he noted that these nations had established modern port systems and adequate infrastructure to accommodate large vessels as early as 30 years ago. Meanwhile, in Vietnam, the Cái Mép - Thị Vải Port, completed in 2011, could not initially operate at full capacity due to planning issues. From this, he highlighted that planning is a critical factor to consider in maximizing the effectiveness of the entire infrastructure system. Furthermore, the logistics sector includes many types of specialized and expensive real estate, such as offshore oil rigs, crude oil storage facilities, and floating LNG storage and delivery facilities, among others. With such diversity, disputes in this sector arise from various causes throughout both the construction and operational phases. Common types of disputes include: (i) shareholder and member disputes within companies; (ii) disputes related to accidents/incidents in the logistics sector; (iii) disputes over the bankruptcy of logistics companies; and (iv) disputes arising from the lack of auxiliary logistics services, involving both domestic and foreign parties. To minimize these disputes, Mr. Đặng Việt Anh made several recommendations for risk management. He emphasized that throughout the transaction process, to avoid unfavorable situations, businesses need to utilize mediation and arbitration to resolve disputes instead of resorting to court litigation. This approach helps save time and costs for businesses while maintaining their reputations.