Vietnam Shippers’ Council to be set up soon

The Vietnam Shippers’ Council is expected to be set up next October in a bid to protect Vietnamese importers and exporters from unequal treatment by foreign ship-owners.

The move received a warm response, with up to 120 enterprises and business associations registering to join the council, said Ho Quang Trung, Deputy Director of the Import-Export Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

The council is also seen as a shield for Vietnamese shippers who have had to pay freight costs imposed by foreign ship-owners. Vietnam still lacks an agency to protect the interests of shippers, as well as businesses, in relations with relevant local agencies and international transporters, Trung added. Up until now, local shippers have not been able to provide a unified response to the imposition of unilateral and unequal policies by foreign ship-owners.

“The council is expected to counterbalance the power of ship-owners and their associations to prevent a monopoly, as well as protect the interests of shippers from unreasonable charges,” Trung stressed.

Once the council is established, it will defend its members during freight cost negotiations with ship-owners and assist them in training human resources.

The council will participate in the Federation of ASEAN Shippers’ Councils and the Asia Shippers’ Council, Trung added.

vov, vietnamplus

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