Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien has suggested the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA) provide practical measures to assist Vietnamese businesses in overcoming challenges caused by the increased shipping freight rates, port congestion, and shortage of empty containers.

Ba Ria-Vung Tau seaport – Illustrative image (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien has suggested the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA) provide practical measures to assist Vietnamese businesses in overcoming challenges caused by the increased shipping freight rates, port congestion, and shortage of empty containers.

In his letter sent to FIATA President Turgut Erkeskin, Dien stressed that these abovementioned difficulties have had serious impacts on and affected the competitiveness of Vietnamese goods on the international market.

Vietnam hopes to learn from experiences and solutions that FIATA member countries and associations have applied, especially in handling port surcharges, Dien said, wishing that the federation, within its influence on other international organisations in the import-export, logistics, and supply chain management sectors, will emphasise Vietnam’s position in the global value chain to prioritise appropriate means of transport and equipment for the Vietnamese market.

He also proposed FIATA support the Vietnamese Government in its strategy to position Vietnam as a hub for manufacturing goods and a new international transshipment location in Asia within the global logistics business community; and authorise Vietnamese organisations to participate in the federation’s training and certification programmes to quickly train professional human resources capable of accessing high-level international markets.

Dien stressed that his ministry will direct export industries, logistics associations and enterprises to connect and cooperate closely, and have timely response plans to minimise risks and losses from complex developments in the future.

The ministry believed that cooperation with FIATA will continue to develop, he said, adding that Vietnam will make a worthy contribution to enhancing the federation’s role and status, and its effective support will help the Southeast Asian country integrate into the global logistics market.

FIATA is a global organisation representing the freight forwarding and logistics industry. It now gathers 114 national logistics associations, with activities spanning 150 countries and territories, and connecting approximately 40,000 businesses worldwide.

Vietnam will host the FIATA World Congress in October 2025 in Hanoi./.