From January 1, 2023, Hai Phong will reduce 50% of seaport infrastructure fees for inland waterways

Hai Phong City People's Council has just issued Resolution No. 21/2022/NQ-HDND amending and supplementing Clause 2, Article 1 of Resolution No. 148/2016/NQ-HDND dated December 13, 2016 of the City Council providing collection rate, mode of collection, payment, management and use of fees for the use of infrastructure works, service works and public utilities in Hai Phong seaport border gate area. Hai Phong City People's Council has just issued Resolution No. 21/2022/NQ-HDND amending and supplementing Clause 2, Article 1 of Resolution No. 148/2016/NQ-HDND dated December 13, 2016 of the City People's Council stipulating the rate, collection regime, pay, manage and use fees for using infrastructure works, service works and public utilities in Hai Phong seaport border-gate area.

Accordingly, Hai Phong City People's Council, term XVI, 9th session decided to amend and supplement Clause 2, Article 1 of Resolution No. 148/2016/NQ- People's Council dated December 13, 2016 of the City People's Council. collection rate, mode of collection, payment, management and use of fees for the use of infrastructure works, service works and public utilities in the area of Hai Phong seaport.

Specifically, on subjects of exemption and reduction of prescribed fees, and exemption from fees for imported goods and exported goods that are goods serving security and defense tasks; aid and humanitarian relief goods.

At the same time, reduce 50% of the charge rate for goods of toll payers when entering and leaving the port by inland waterway vessels operating on waterways.

Regarding the responsibility for organizing the implementation, the City Council assigns the City People's Committee and relevant agencies and units to be responsible for implementing the Resolution in accordance with law. Assign the Standing Committee of the City People's Council, the Committees of the City People's Council, the Delegate Team of the City People's Council and the City People's Council deputies to supervise the implementation of the Resolution.

This resolution was approved by the City People's Council, term XVI, at its 9th session on December 9, 2022 and took effect from January 1, 2023.

Previously, as reported by DDDN, there are currently two localities nationwide that collect seaport infrastructure fees for goods imported and exported and transited through seaports, in which, Hai Phong has applied since 2017, Ho Chi Minh City Ho Chi Minh City applies from April 1, 2022.

Concerned businesses and associations have repeatedly suggested that the collection of seaport infrastructure fees for goods transported by inland waterways is unreasonable and not to the right subjects. At the same time, it increases the burden on businesses, creates a situation of "charges on top of fees", reducing the competitiveness of water transport enterprises.

Facing the above problem, the Ministry of Transport has sent a written request to the People's Council and the People's Committee of Hai Phong and Ho Chi Minh City to consider recommendations of associations and businesses on fee exemption and reduction. seaport infrastructure for goods in transit, transshipment transported by inland waterways. At the same time, consider adjusting the reasonable fee rates for imported goods and exported goods transported by inland waterways according to Directive No. 37 dated September 19, 2020 of the Prime Minister on promoting develop inland waterway transport and coastal transport by means of inland waterways.

After that, Ho Chi Minh City has implemented exemption and reduction of fees for goods transported into and out of Ho Chi Minh City's seaports by inland waterways from August 1, 2022, after only 4 months of collection.

Besides Ho Chi Minh City, Thanh Hoa and Ha Tinh are also localities with policies to support businesses and encourage the development of water transport. The policies to support, exempt and reduce fees for goods transported by waterways of the above provinces are evaluated in accordance with the Government's policy of developing inland waterway transport and have received positive reception. from the side of inland waterway transport enterprises.