Deputy PM expects French group’s new logistics solutions for Vietnam
VOV.VN - Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha has asked France’s CMA-CGM Group, a global player in sea, land, air, and logistics solutions, to prioritise new ways to assist in Vietnam's port development strategy, with a specific focus on smart ports, infrastructure for renewable energy, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, and automation.
At a reception held on November 19 in Hanoi for Mathieu Friedberg, senior vice president – Commercial & Agencies Network of CMA CGM Group, the Deputy PM emphasized that the successful implementation of the group's projects would support further co-operation between Vietnamese and French firms.
This comes following the upgrading of diplomatic relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during the France visit made by Party General Secretary To Lam in October.
Friedberg highlighted CMA-CGM's significant footprint in the nation as it boasts four shipping lines serving six international ports and offering 15 international routes to Europe, the US, and other places. Most notably, it is embarking on a project aimed at deploying electric barges, initially on inland waterways in Vietnam.
The initiative seeks to both integrate and maximise the efficiency of multimodal transport, combining maritime, inland waterway, road, and rail networks.
In response, Deputy Minister Ha affirmed that the country always welcomes and encourages the use of renewable energy-powered means of transport as a way of contributing to green energy transition whilst reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the transport sector.
The Vietnamese Government has already introduced mechanisms for direct electricity trading, thereby allowing renewable energy plants to sell electricity directly to large corporate customers, as well as supporting solar rooftop installations for self-generation and consumption. These policies make it easier for CMA-CGM to launch its electric barge project, including investing in infrastructure and charging station systems, he said.
The Government’s commitment to the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) offers CMA-CGM access to financial resources from both the Government and international financial organisations to fund future projects on green energy transition and green transportation in the nation, he added.
The Ministry of Transport has been asked to work alongside CMA-CGM in order to assess the potential and needs of Vietnamese inland waterways, to pilot the electric barge operation to refine safety standards, and to develop infrastructure regulations for renewable energy-powered systems.
