Government mulls letting private sector build seaports

The private economic sector will be likely allowed to invest to build sea ports, according to a meeting to discuss a draft of the Maritime Law in Hanoi April 18. Under the draft law, seaports will be classified into national, local and ?others?.
The government will decide upon the form of investment into national ports, while investment into local ports will be governed by local authorities, said the draft law, which was discussed by the National Assembly Standing Committee in Hanoi Monday.
All economic sectors, including the private sector, will be allowed to invest and develop coastal potential spots into ports, according to the draft law, which will be put forward for approval later this year by the National Assembly, Vietnam?s legislative body.
At the meeting, many NA deputies, however, voiced their concerns over the classification and governance of ports. One deputy commented that without a uniform master plan for port development, there was the possibility of a ?rush? of incongruous port development before identifying which are needed.
It is necessary to focus on building large ports instead of smaller scattered sites, the deputy said.
Ports must be divided into national ones and international ones, said another deputy, pointing out that it was not clear what central or local authorities would operate international and regional ports.

 

Category: Legal