ICD (Inland Container Depot) port is also known as dry port, located deep inland to gather import and export goods unloaded from ships (mainly in containers) to carry out import and export procedures. With the strong development of import and export activities through Mong Cai border gate today, there is an urgent need for an ICD port.

Relieving Port Congestion

In recent years, the volume of import and export goods between Vietnam and China through Mong Cai international border gate has increased rapidly, especially temporarily imported and re-exported goods transported by container. Most of the above-mentioned goods belong to Quang Ninh enterprises, headquartered in Mong Cai city.

Because the usual destination port is Hai Phong port, enterprises must go through customs procedures in Hai Phong and hire water or land transport vehicles to Mong Cai before exporting to China. This takes a lot of time and effort, costs and also poses risks to enterprises.

In addition, recently, at seaports in Hai Phong, there has always been a congestion of goods due to seaport infrastructure and traffic infrastructure. To reduce the load at seaports and resolve the congestion of goods, the development of ICD port in Mong Cai is necessary and brings high economic efficiency.

If ICD Mong Cai is established here, the destination port will be Mong Cai. Import and export procedures will also be carried out at the port, instead of businesses having to do procedures at Hai Phong seaport. This will create convenience for businesses, avoid congestion at international seaports and significantly reduce costs for businesses.

Promoting import-export activities through Mong Cai

Recognizing the role of establishing an ICD port in developing Mong Cai’s commercial activities, since 2009, the Provincial People’s Committee has agreed to allow Thanh Dat Joint Stock Company to carry out procedures to establish an ICD port in the area of ​​Km3+4, Hai Yen ward, Mong Cai city.

Currently, the cargo yard of Thanh Dat Joint Stock Company in Hai Yen commune has been approved by the Provincial People’s Committee for a detailed planning at a scale of 1/500. This location is convenient for waterway, road, and railway traffic and is a location that is fully qualified to build an ICD port to serve the circulation of export goods.

Mr. Duong Van Thanh, Director of Thanh Dat Joint Stock Company, said: The company has invested more than 300 billion VND to build a system of factories, wharves, docks, loading and unloading systems… in the area of ​​Km3+4, Hai Yen Ward, Mong Cai City, fully meeting the infrastructure requirements for the operation of the ICD port. According to regulations, the conditions for facilities to ensure the operation of the ICD port have been well met by the unit such as: the working headquarters of the customs force, the place to inspect goods, the place to install equipment such as electronic scales, scanners, warehouses for storing evidence of violations… The company has arranged 20 hectares of land out of the total land fund of 40 hectares of the unit for the operation of the ICD port (according to regulations, the ICD port has a minimum area of ​​10 hectares).

Based on the criteria for establishing an ICD port as stipulated in Decision No. 2223/QD-TTg dated December 13, 2011 of the Prime Minister and documents of central ministries and branches, the customs clearance point of Thanh Dat Joint Stock Company here has all the elements to establish an ICD port. Therefore, the Provincial People’s Committee has also issued a document requesting the Ministry of Transport to announce the establishment of an ICD port at the above location. Mr. Duong Xuan Ly, Deputy Head of the Import-Export Procedure Team No. 1, Mong Cai Customs Branch said: Currently, the warehouse area of ​​Thanh Dat Joint Stock Company in Km3+4, Hai Yen Ward is only a point for checking exported goods but does not carry out customs procedures here. Exported goods here are mainly carried out at Hai Phong port, then sealed with lead and transferred here. The customs force is only responsible for monitoring whether the exported goods are in accordance with the declaration or not. The establishment of ICD port in Mong Cai also means that enterprises will carry out import-export procedures and pay import-export taxes in Quang Ninh, contributing to increasing the local budget revenue. Therefore, it will create significant convenience for enterprises to carry out import-export procedures through Mong Cai city, attracting more enterprises to participate in import-export activities here. The development of import-export activities in Mong Cai will also lead to the development of many services, promoting the socio-economic development of the locality. Regarding the benefits of establishing ICD port in Mong Cai, Mr. Bui Van Khang, Deputy Director of Quang Ninh Customs Department affirmed: If ICD port is established in Mong Cai, it will be more convenient for enterprises because enterprises can declare directly at the port, without having to transfer to the border gate as at present. Supervision of transported goods will be more convenient because goods arriving at Hai Phong port will be transferred to Mong Cai ICD port to complete procedures. Closer supervision work…

It can be seen that the establishment of an ICD port will bring many practical effects to import-export activities through Mong Cai. Currently, all criteria for the establishment of the port have been completed. Therefore, the Ministry of Transport needs to soon issue a decision to announce the establishment of an ICD port to promote the smooth development of local import-export activities.

Việt Phương