The northeastern province of Quang Ninh has a 250-km long coastline and many islands, which hold great potential for developing deepwater ports.

The northeastern province has built a port network from Mong Cai city to Yen Hung district. Prominent among those is the Hon Gai port – a national port complex comprising the Cai Lan container port and depot and satellite specially purposed wharves.

Quang Ninh’s port network is assessed to be at an advantage compared to others thanks to their location in deep water areas and logical development planning with synchronous infrastructure and improved logistics services.

The province has just put into operation docks No. 2, 3 and 4 at the Cai Lan port. The docks, costing 155 million USD to build, have storing area of 14 hectares and are equipped with modern cranes with a combined capacity of handling 30 containers an hour.

Taking advantage of the favourable conditions, the Ha Long Shipbuilding Company has applied advanced technologies in building large tonnage ships for foreign customers, for example 1,016-1,730 TEU container ships or a 53,000 tonne ship for the UK . The company has handed over nine 53,000- tonne ships to overseas customers.

Additionally, several ship maintenance factories and a support industrial complex for the shipbuilding sector have also got investment for construction. The Rung Ferry Shipbuilding Company has invested 4.5 trillion VND (214 million USD) to build three shipbuilding and engine manufacturing factories. The projects have affirmed the advantage and breakthrough capacity of the Quang Ninh shipbuilding industry amid the trend of globalisation.

To facilitate the development of coastal economic and industrial zones, Quang Ninh has given priority to building essential infrastructure.

At the Van Don economic zone, apart from building 22 technical infrastructure projects with a combined investment of 4.59 trillion VND, Quang Ninh is calling for investment in other key projects such as Van Don airport, Van Tien bridge, the road system, entertainment facilities and resorts, as well as seafood farming and exploitation projects.

The Van Don economic zone has to date attracted 79 projects with a total registered capital of 9.8 trillion VND (466 million USD).

In addition, Quang Ninh has established four concentrated industrial zones with a total area of 922 ha and eight district-level industrial clusters covering 215 hectares, of which three have leased 80 percent of their land.

According to experts, the establishment of coastal economic and industrial zones give Quang Ninh a competitive advantage in the current trend of looking to the sea./.VNA