A booth at the Viet Nam International Port, Infrastructure and Logistics Exhibition & Conference 2019, which is being held at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre from June 12 to 14. — VNS Photo Xuan Huong

The first Viet Nam International Port, Infrastructure and Logistics Exhibition & Conference (VIPILEC 2019) opened in HCM City on Wednesday with the participation of 100 exhibitors from 15 countries and territories.

Companies in third-party logistics (3PLs), freight forwarding, air transport, cold storage transport, stevedoring equipment, cold chain storage, container production, data analysis, waterway equipment supply and operation, equipment and logistics property supply, port equipment and technology, intelligent intra-logistics, and logistics and warehouses are displaying their latest products and services.

There will be several seminars and conferences on the sidelines, including on E-logistics-Last mile fulfillment/delivery; customs bond and customs agencies and smart logistics: opportunities and challenges, which will be organised by the Viet Nam Logistics Business Association (VLA), Viet Nam E-Commerce Association and the Ministry of Science and Technology.

BT Tee, general manager of Informa Markets Vietnam, the expo organiser, said: “The movement of goods from the point of production to the point of consumption is the essence of trade and logistics. They go hand in hand and cannot exist without the other.”

Businesses in the past tended to ignore logistics, but in the current age of heightened global competition and increasing e-commerce activities, logistics and its supporting infrastructure framework have taken centre stage to help businesses drive down cost, improve production scheduling and delivery commitments, he said.

“VIPILEC is expected to be the technology and service channel for the industry where we envision the event becoming a focal point for industry professionals to meet and source new partners, technology and customers.”

Dao Trong Khoa, vice president of the VLA, said logistics is a high valued-added services sector and is developing strongly and has greatly contributed to the economy.

The logistics services sector, which has more than 4,000 local and foreign companies, contributes around 5 per cent to the country’s GDP.

“The sector made outstanding progress last year since its ranking in the World Bank’s 2018 Logistics Performance Index rose 25 places from two years ago to 39th out of 160 and first among emerging markets,” Khoa said.

The country’s foreign trade is expected to grow by 8-10 per cent this year, he said.

“And logistics activities, which are closely associated with import-export and cargo movement, will also enjoy strong growth this year, expected at 10-12 per cent.”

The event would be a good chance for Vietnamese logistics firms to introduce their services, seek businesses partners to expand their markets and promote Vietnamese logistics to the region and the world, he said.

Organised by Informa Markets Vietnam, sponsored by VLA and the VECOM, and media sponsored by Moi truong and Do thi Viet Nam (Viet Nam Environment and Urban) e-magazine, the exhibition at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre will go on until June 14 . — VNS