At the Vietnam Logistics Summit 2024, hosted by VIR and themed “Transform to Breakthrough,” Yap Kwong Weng, CEO of Vietnam SuperPort, outlined an ambitious future for Vietnam’s logistics landscape. His presentation centered on the country’s evolving role in global trade, highlighting the growing importance of breakbulk and project cargo alongside more traditional logistics needs.
Mr. Yap Kwong Weng emphasized that as geopolitical tensions drive businesses to diversify supply chains away from China, Southeast Asia—and particularly Vietnam—has emerged as a leading alternative. Foreign direct investment (FDI) in ASEAN-6 nations has surged, reaching $236 billion in 2023, up from a yearly average of $190 billion from 2020 to 2022. In Vietnam, exports now comprise over 20% of Southeast Asia’s total outbound trade, creating a pressing demand to modernize its logistics capabilities.
Vietnam SuperPort is strategically positioned as a multimodal logistics hub along the Kunming-Hanoi Economic Corridor, aiming to connect Vietnam with China and other ASEAN countries. This placement benefits not only general freight but also critical breakbulk and project cargo sectors, which rely on high-capacity, versatile transport networks for large or irregularly shaped goods. To further strengthen its infrastructure, Vietnam SuperPort has signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with Vietnam Maritime Corporation, Vietnam Airlines, and Vietnam Railways Corporation. These partnerships are designed to build connectivity across air, sea, rail, and road routes, enabling the port to support a diverse range of cargo types, from heavy machinery to oversized construction materials, essential to Vietnam’s infrastructure and industrial development.
According to Weng, “Vietnam SuperPort is integrated infrastructure across rail, road, air, and sea that is built for rapid expansion.” He pointed out that digital transformation and resilience are central to their mission. Through an advanced suite of AI-driven tools and automated solutions from Singapore, Vietnam SuperPort is integrating cutting-edge technology to streamline logistics. For breakbulk and project cargo, automation such as automated storage retrieval systems, mobile robotics, and autonomous inventory management reduces handling risks and ensures operational efficiency.
In tandem with digitalization, Vietnam SuperPort is championing green logistics with the aim of becoming Southeast Asia’s first net-zero multimodal logistics port by 2040. This commitment aligns with Vietnam’s national target to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 43.5% by 2030. These sustainability efforts are especially critical for breakbulk and project cargo, as more clients in this segment prioritize environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors in their operations. Vietnam SuperPort’s environmental practices and innovations in sustainable warehouse solutions and transportation methods allow them to meet these demands.
Weng highlighted Vietnam SuperPort’s advantage in offering ASEAN-specific regulatory insights and adaptable logistics infrastructure designed for resilience. “We enable resilience by maintaining adaptability across operations to mitigate risk and ensure business continuity,” he remarked, underscoring Vietnam SuperPort’s readiness to handle the unique requirements of breakbulk and project cargo alongside traditional trade, supporting Vietnam’s growth as a central logistics and supply chain hub for the ASEAN region.
