VOV.VN - A joint venture enterprise has been established in Laos recently to increase cooperation on maritime transport between Laos and Vietnam.

Vietnam’s seaports handled an estimated over 689 million tonnes of cargo this year, up 4% annually, reported the Vietnam Maritime Administration.

The volume of cargo handled at Vietnamese seaports was estimated to reach almost 630 million tonnes in the first 11 months of 2020, an increase of 5% against the same period last year, according to the Vietnam Maritime Administration.

Seaport companies still reported positive earnings despite the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on September 16 received Dutch and Belgian Ambassadors to Vietnam along with EU investors who want to pour capital into a seaport logistics project worth nearly US$1 billion in Vietnam.

The construction of a series of seaports in the south-central region is expected to drive its maritime economic development, according to local government leaders.

Statistics from the Vietnam Maritime Administration showed that despite being affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, the total volume of goods through Vietnamese seaports reached nearly 485.3 million tonnes in the first eight months of this year.

Container loading and unloading service charges should be increased to approach the regional level so investors would not feel hesitant when pouring money into developing seaports.