SOON TO ADJUST HAI PHONG SEAPORT INFRASTRUCTURE FEE

The Government Office has just issued Official Letter No. 7287/VPCP-CN dated October 29, 2022 conveying the direction of Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai on fees for using infrastructure works, service works, Public utilities in the seaport border gate area in Hai Phong City.

Regarding the report of the Ministry of Finance on fees for using infrastructure works, public service works and utilities in the seaport border gate area in Hai Phong City, Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai requested the Ministry of Finance and Hai Phong City People's Committee continue to implement the direction of Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai in Official Dispatch No. 4732/VPCP-CN dated July 28, 2022 of the Government Office, soon adjust fees for using infrastructure works, service works and public utilities in the seaport border gate area in Hai Phong City for goods transported by inland waterway.

Previously, many business associations related to inland waterway transport have sent documents to Hai Phong City People's Committee requesting exemption of fees for goods temporarily imported for re-export, goods temporarily exported for re-import, and goods stored in foreign warehouses. customs, goods in transit, goods in transit, exported goods, and imported goods transported by inland waterway means operating on waterway transport routes.

These associations also consider the exemption and reduction of fees for goods transported by sea.

In fact, since 2016, Hai Phong has issued Resolution No. 148/2016/NQ-HDND “Regulating fees for using works, infrastructure, service works and public utilities in the border gate area Hai Phong seaport”.

In which, organizations and individuals trading in goods temporarily imported for re-export, goods in transit, goods stored in bonded warehouses, goods in transit using constructions, infrastructure, service works, utilities,... public in Hai Phong border gate area; subjects who open customs declarations for temporary import of goods in other provinces, but carry out re-export procedures at border-gate Customs Sub-Departments, under Hai Phong Customs Department... will have to pay fees according to each item type.

Chairman of the Vietnam Inland Waterway Transport Association Tran Do Liem said that it is unreasonable for Hai Phong to charge for seaport infrastructure of means of transport by waterway. Inland waterway transport moving on the river - is a favorable natural condition, so the infrastructure in the seaport border gate area is not used. Enterprises upon arrival at the port had to pay port fees, water area fees, and other charges when traveling on the river channel.

The chairman of the Vietnam Inland Waterway Transport Association also said that the collection of this fee will increase the cost of transportation, leading to an increase in the price of goods, leading to unfair competition and increasing inflation.

According to the assessment of associations and businesses, if Hai Phong City is free to use works, storey structures, service works in the Hai Phong seaport area for imported and exported goods, By means of inland waterway transport, logistics costs will be reduced by about 10%.

At the same time, goods from the seaport will be transferred from land to inland waterway, reducing the number of cars operating in the area. Thereby, reducing the cost of maintenance, maintenance, maintenance of service conditions or regeneration of infrastructure works, service works and public utilities in the Hai Phong seaport border gate area.

In this regard, in Official Letter No. 4732/VPCP-CN dated July 28, 2022, Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai requested the Ministry of Finance to assume the prime responsibility and coordinate with the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Industry and Trade and other agencies related to working with the People's Committee of Hai Phong City to resolve the recommendations of business associations and opinions of the Finance and Budget Committee of the National Assembly; report to the Prime Minister in September 2022.