Dutch firms plan to invest in shipbuilding and logistics projects

In a meeting between Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Dutch businesses organised on December 11, leaders from the Boskalis group – the world’s leading marine and logistics firm – said that the group can provide policy consultation to Vietnam on setting up a legal framework for sustainable sand exploitation at sea.

Meanwhile, Arnout Damen, executive director of Damen Shipyards Gorinchem, said it plans to invest $100 million more in shipbuilding in Vietnam and wants to help the country develop a green transport network.

This is not the first time that Damen has expressed its interest in the shipbuilding sector in Vietnam. It initially built up its presence in the nation by subcontracting to yards in the northern port city of Haiphong.

It has established a joint venture owned by Damen Shipyards (70 per cent) and Song Cam Shipyard (30 per cent) – a subsidiary of Shipbuilding Industry Group Vietnam. The joint venture will operate the shipyard for 40 years.

PM Chinh said that Vietnam has the potential for developing shipbuilding and marine logistics thanks to its coastline that stretches for more than 3,260km. Vietnam hopes to cooperate with the Netherlands in seaport building, aiming to turn the country into an international hub for logistics and transhipments.

Thanks to its coastline, Vietnam is prioritising the development of logistics and many localities have boosted the construction or upgrade of ports, airports, and human resource training. However, it still faces many difficulties in terms of capital, experience, technology, and technical capacity.

The Netherlands is Europe's transit gateway and a worldwide leader in the field of logistics. It has hundreds of years of sea freight experience and is responsible for the application of many breakthrough technologies during the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Almost 93 percent of German companies already operating in Vietnam will continue to invest in the country and over 64 percent of them expect their business to develop better in the next 12 months, a survey from AHK World Business Outlook–Spring 2022 has revealed.

An initiative from Dutch Lady, a brand of milk producer FrieslandCampina, has reaped impressive outcomes, contributing to the country’s efforts to provide more nutrition and physical development for millions of children.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) has proposed removing five thermal power plant projects from the National Power Development Plan VIII unless investors commit to arranging enough capital.

Merely a glance at their iconic orange or blue and white striped shirts is enough to evoke memories of World Cups past and more history will surely be written on Friday when the Netherlands face Argentine in their quarter-final.