Maersk eyes building major container ports in Vietnam

A.P.Moller - Maersk (Maersk) is exploring investment opportunities to develop large, modern and low-carbon container ports in Vietnam.

The Danish integrated transport and logistics giant's CEO Vincent Clerc made the statement at a meeting with Vietnam’s Party chief To Lam on Tuesday.

Clerc said Maersk sees Vietnam as an important partner in the region and globally, praising the country’s economic growth despite global headwinds. the Vietnamese government's news portal reported.

He said the group is interested in developing green, modern and large ports and strategic logistics projects that could help Vietnam boost trade, shift to a low-carbon economy, and meet its net-zero emissions target.

Maersk sees significant potential and opportunities in Vietnam and want to contribute more to its development, Clerc was quoted as saying.

In response, Party chief To Lam said he welcomes Maersk’s plans to expand investment in Vietnam’s smart and green port infrastructure and logistics services.

The Vietnamese top leader noted that the country is prioritizing infrastructure development, including sustainable seaports. He said Vietnam would facilitate foreign investment in maritime and logistics projects.

Vietnam is among the world’s 20 largest trading economies and is accelerating efforts to build a nationwide, modern transport infrastructure network to strengthen competitiveness.

Vietnam and Denmark established a Comprehensive Partnership in 2013 and a Green Strategic Partnership in 2023, which the Party chief said would further support cooperation aligned with green and sustainable development.

At a meeting with Minister of Finance Nguyen Van Thang in Hanoi in April this year, Robert Maersk Uggla, chairman of Maersk, said the Danish giant is eyeing opportunities to build a deep-water port in Danang city, an economic hub in central Vietnam.

Maersk is currently involved in three main activities in Vietnam, namely maritime transport, large-sized container transportation services, and logistics for inland ports.

Maersk is investing in the Cai Mep-Thi Vai port in the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau (now part of Ho Chi Minh City), and together with Vietnamese firm Hateco, the giant built and inaugurated a deep-water port in Hai Phong city in April this year.