Hai Phong City slashes fees

Northern Hai Phong Port City will reduce fees by 20 per cent for using infrastructure, service facilities and public utilities at its ports from beginning of 2018. — Photo dantri.com.vn

Northern Hai Phong port city will reduce fees by 20 per cent for using infrastructure, service facilities and public utilities at its ports from the beginning of 2018.

Accordingly, fees for liquid and bulk cargo is proposed to be reduced from VND20,000 to VND16,000 per tonne.

This was announced at the municipal People’s Committee meeting to revise Resolution No. 148/2016/NQ-HDND, dated December 13, 2016, which stipulated that individuals and organisations having shipments stored at bonded warehouses must now pay VND2.2 million (US$97) to VND4.8 million ($220) per container, an increase of nearly 70 per cent. The fees for goods in transit is from VND500,000 to VND1 million.

The resolution came into effect from the beginning of this year.

The People’s Committee said the city had references from other localities with border gates such as Quang Tri, Tay Ninh, Lao Cai and Quang Ninh and the business reality to implement the higher fees.

However, many associations and businesses raised concerns over the high fees, some even appealing to Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc following one year of application.

Deputy PM Vuong Dinh Hue asked the Ministry of Finance and Hai Phong City to strictly follow the PM’s instruction on reviewing fees for using infrastructure, service facilities and public utilities at ports in the city.

Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Van Tung affirmed that the collection of fees for the use of infrastructure, service facilities and public utilities at all ports in the city is as per laws and regulations. The fee collection would contribute to the State budget for the re-investment of transport infrastructure and maintenance of seaports in the city.

The People’s Committee of Hai An District has implemented the fee collection. By the end of September, total fee collection was VND1.06 trillion, meeting with 68 per cent of its set targets.

The city’s Department of Finance has co-operated with the district in reviewing and pushing fee payments at some businesses. The city would impose strict fines for firms making slow payments. — VNS