Nearly VNĐ1.5 trillion (US$60.3 million) has been collected via the automatic fee collecting system for the use of infrastructure and public services at ports in HCM City since April, according to the city’s Port Authority of Inland Waterway.
Concerned businesses and associations have repeatedly suggested that the collection of seaport infrastructure fees for goods transported by inland waterways was unreasonable and not to the right subjects.
The HCM City Department of Transport has proposed a 50 per cent cut in port infrastructure fees for international trade goods transported by inland waterways.
HCM City is set to launch an automatic fee collecting system for the use of infrastructure and public services at ports on April 1 to raise funds to develop roads around ports.
Seven business associations have called on HCM City to defer the imposition of and reduce port infrastructure and service fees saying businesses have not yet fully recovered from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
A one-month trial operation of an automatic system for collecting fees for use of infrastructure and public services at ports began in HCM City on February 16.
In December last year, the HCM City People’s Council issued a resolution on collecting fees for using infrastructure facilities and public services at local ports.
The HCM City Department of Transport has recommended that the People’s Committee should collect infrastructure fees at ports to fund improvements to their facilities.
Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue has asked Hai Phong City to revise the fees for using infrastructure, service facilities and public utilities at ports in the city.