As the country’s largest economic hub, Ho Chi Minh City plans to enhance its sea-based economy as part of its strategy to develop the city.

The operation of the Soai Rap sea route in 2014 under the city’s strategic plan of “moving towards the sea” has helped increase the number of ships entering the city, especially foreign ones.

The Sai Gon – Hiep Phuoc is one of three ports in the route. Currently, the port has deployed 500 metres of wharf, capable of receiving 50,000 tonne-ships. An additional 1,000 metres will be built in the coming time, helping receive cargo ships in the region.

"The Sai Gon – Hiep Phuoc port has received more than 200 tonnes of cargo with more than 20 ships since it began operation in July 2017," said Deputy Director of Sai Gon Port Joint Stock Company, Nguyen Quoc Hung.

"The port is expected to receive more in the future," he added.

 According to the city’s development plan, the locality will develop eastward and southward to the sea. Under the plan, the will be four big towns in Hiep Phuoc area.

The area will become a waterway transport hub for the whole Ho Chi Minh City area, the southeast and the Mekong Delta regions.

"The Hiep Phuc urban town is part of the port’s industrial zone," said Ph.D Nguyen Van Trinh, Deputy Chairman of Development and Research Institute of Ho Chi Minh City. "To prepare for infrastructure development, the city should continue dredging Soai Rap River to increase the port’s capacity," he said.

As the sole coastal district of Ho Chi Minh City, Can Gio plays the most important role in the city’s economic development strategy towards the Sea.

According to Chairman of People’s Committee of Can Gio district, Le Minh Dung to develop the sea-based economy, the city need huge investment resource. Besides, the district also needs to develop agricultural tourism, aquaculture and seafood processing, among others.

The city is studying a project on building Can Gio marine ecological tourism town. In the future, the area will become a green town and a gateway from Ho Chi Minh City toward the sea.-VNA