MINUTES AND RESOLUTIONS

ANNUAL MEETING 2008
VIETNAM SEAPORTS ASSOCIATION

September 10-12, 2008 – Nha Trang City

1. In implementing the action plan as approved by the 6th. VPA Main Meeting in 2007 at Vung

Tau City, the Annual Meeting 2008 of the Vietnam Seaports Association (VPA) hosted by Nha

Trang Port has been held on September 10-12, 2008 in Nha Trang City.

2.  In addition to the honorable guests from the authorities and community, participants to the Meeting include 111 official delegates and 83 observing delegates of 47/49 member ports. Petroleum B12 Terminal and Dong Thap Port did not send participant due to business engagements. List of delegates appears in Annex 1.

3. After the introduction of the Organizing Committee, the Meeting unanimously approved the chair persons and the secretaries of the Meeting as proposed by the Executing Committee as follows:

Chair persons:
- Mr. Le Cong Minh, Chairman
- Mr. Ngo Bac Ha, Vice Chairman
- Mr. Nguyen Thu, Vice Chairman
- Mr. Nguyen Dang Nghiem, Vice Chairman
- Mr. Mai Quy Nhu, Chairman, Organizing Committee

Meeting Secretaries:
- Mr. Cao Hong Phong
- Mr. Le Van Thao

4. The Meeting has the honour to welcome the attendance of the Chairman of Vietnam Maritime Administration, Mr. Vuong Dinh Lam, representing the Ministry of Transport; Vice Chairman of Khanh Hoa province People's Committee Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Hang; Vice Director General of Vietnam National Shipping Lines Mr. Tran Huu Chieu, together with officials, representatives from central and local government organizations and agencies, the ex. maritime senior officials and experts, representatives from friendly professional associations, representatives of some other companies, organizations to the Meeting.

5. The Meeting thanks the following organizations for sending greeting flower bouquets to the Meeting: Khanh Hoa province People's Committee, Vietnam Shipping Agency and Broker Association, Southern Marine Seaching and Rescue Center, Nha Trang Port, China Merchant Group.

6. The Meeting took notes of the report of the Organizing Committee on the preparation for the Meeting presented by representative from Nha Trang Port.

7. The Meeting took notes of the report of the 6th. Executing Committee presented by Mr. Lê Cong Minh, Chairman; report on activities and implementation of the action plan of the association, financial report of fiscal year 2007-2008 and budget of expenditures for 2008-2009 presented by Mr. Ho Kim Lan, Secretary General.

8. The Meeting took notes of the keynotes address by Mr. Vuong Dinh Lam, Chairman of Vietnam Maritime Administration representing the Ministry of Transport, remarks by Vice Chairman of Khanh Hoa province People's Committee Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Hang, remarks by Mr. Tran Huu Chieu, Vice Director General, Vietnam National Shipping Lines.

9. Mr. Le Cong Minh, Chairman of the association has delivered the membership certificate to representative of new member ports, namely Dinh Vu Port, Cai Cui Port, VICT, and Binh Minh Port at the Meeting.

10. The following ports have made presentation on port activity and development as well as comments and inputs to the activities of the association in the coming years.

- Presentation of Quang Ninh Port on “Cai Lan Port Infrastructure Leasing for Operations, new step for a new mechanism”

- Presentation of Hai Phòng Port on “Some issues relating to the activities of the ports in Hai Phong area”

- Presentation of Đa Nang Port on “Solutions to improve the service quality and port operations efficiency”

- Presentation of Nha Trang Port on “Some solutions to attract customers, increasing the cargo handling capability and business efficiency”

- Presentation of Saigon New Port on "Vietnam ports: the connectivity and improvement of operations capacity"

- Presentation of Saigon Port on "Current port services tariff"

- Presentation of VICT on "VICT Port getting improved day by day in port operation potentials " 11. During the discussion, the delegates have voiced comments and suggestions on how to improve the role and responsibilities of the association in coming years, on improving the membership, master planning and development of ports, the business and operations of member ports, the need to stabilize the port tariffs, cooperative relationship between the ports.

 12. The Meeting compliment the performance of the Secretariat with good achievements in fulfilling its duties towards the association in general and in cooperating with Nha Trang Port for organizing well the Annual Meeting 2008 this time in Nha Trang in particular and especially the contents for the meeting and services to the guests and delegates including to foreign guests, sponsors etc.

13. The Meeting highly appreciate the precious contribution of the Main Sponsors, namely Stinis Singapore Pte Ltd., Unico Handels GmbH / Gottwald Port Technology, Realtime Business Solution Pty. Ltd. (RBS), Tan Cranes & Equipment Co. Ltd.; the Associate Sponsors namely Cotecna Inc., Zebra Enterprise Solutions - Navis, China Merchants Group, Svitzer Far East Pte Ltd., Liebherr Werk Nanzing GmbH, Konecranes, and other sponsors namely Gensolf Company Limited, KIROW Leipzig KE Kranbau Eberswalde AG, Mueller + Partner GmbH, Jebsen & Jesen Technology (S) Pte ltd., Weyenberg Resources International Ltd., Penta Ocean Construction Company who have supported and attend the Meeting bringing valuable contribution to the success of the Meeting.

14. The Meeting thanks the press representatives of the central and local mass media for attending and make public about the Meeting and in particular the Shipping Times magazine for its special issue commemorating the Meeting.

15. The main items discussed and approved by the Meeting to be included in the Meeting resolution are:

- Approve the report of the 6th term Executing Committee, Secretary Report on activities of the association.
- Approve the programme of activities and budget for 2009 as appeared in Annex 2 and commend the Secretariat for managing and increasing the financial condition of the association and for organizing well the activities of the association in the past several years.
- Participate, mobilizing the other in clearing the market, environment of port services; improving the transport conditions of the vital road and channel links for seamless movement of ships and cargoes; continue to propose the state, relevant authorities and coordinate with other organizations, associations in resolving the obstacles, difficulties in port operations and development at community and regional levels;
- Propose the Ministry, agencies and municipalities to monitor closely and give support to the major port projects at the focal economic areas for timely construction and put into operations on schedule, in which there are needs to complete on schedule, at quality and elevation of related components such as bridges, roads, channels, electricity, water supply; and at the same time to develop other transportation and services projects, facilitating the seamless flow of cargoes with less costs, particularly on the corridors;  
- Continue to propose the state on amendment of master plans for seaports; on completion quickly and put into application the seaport infrastructure administration mechanism, management models, methods of leasing port infrastructures etc....

16. On specific tasks in the coming years, the Meeting discussed and agreed on the orientation and activities of the association as detailed in the report proposed by the Secretary, including the following main tasks:

1. Reflection of the situation, contribution of inputs to the State and maritime sector as well as active participation in resolving current common issues and difficulties, improvement of the mechanism, improvement of administration and stabilization of the market, meeting the demand of the member ports on marketing information, business development, human resources development etc.
2. Continuation and effective realization of the association roles in fighting dumping, agreement on basic port service rates within each area and ensure the strict compliance on agreed rates.
3. Take full advantage of the funding sources, the cooperation opportunities with other international organizations and partners for development, meeting the demand in related fields, in particular the opportunities of connecting information, human resources development for the ports.
4. Well preparation for the meetings in 2009
5. Active participation in the activities of ASEAN ports and good execution of VPA member duties within APA during 2008-2009 including the organization of ASEAN ports activities in Vietnam as required.
6. Organization of the training courses for specialized human resources development and requirements of member ports.
7. Support the ports on information, standardization, improvement of administration procedures, application of IT in port management and operations, increase competitiveness for international economic integration etc..
8. Having more services and effective exploitation of the VPA website including the electronic magazine of the association. Applying, establishing and putting into operation the specialized maritime trading magazine of the association;
9. Providing information and supporting the ports in completing and successful implementing the regulations and new policies of the maritime sector in the years to come.

 17. As proposed by the Executing Committee, Saigon NewPort graciously accepted the hosting of the VPA Annual Meeting 2009. The date and venue shall be informed later. The Meeting witnessed the handing- over of the association Flag from Nha Trang Port to Saigon New Port.

18. The Meeting expressed its thanks and appreciation to the leaders of Khanh Hoa province and Nha Trang City for granting permission and facilitating the organization of the Meeting and also for attending and addressing the Meeting.

19. On behalf of the 6th term Executing Committee, Mr. Le Cong Minh, Chairman of the association has delivered the closing remarks. On behalf of the Executing Committee and Organizing Committee of Nha Trang Port and all delegates to the Meeting, Mr. Lê Cong Minh, Chairman thanked the leaders of the Ministry of Transportation, Khanh Hoa province, Nha Trang city, leaders of the Vietnam Maritime Administration, Vietnam National Shipping Lines, leaders of other central and local organizations and agencies as well as representatives of other professional associations for attending and addressing the Meeting; he thanked the ex. senior transportation officials and experts, representatives of the friendly organizations, representatives from the mass media central and local, the sponsors, the managements of Yasaka Saigon Nhatrang Hotel, Hai Au hotels and the others as well for the effective support and precious contribution to the success of the Meeting.

20. The Executing Committee and all delegates also thanked the management and staff of the Organization Committee and supporting personnel from the Nha Trang Port and Saigon Port, for the detailed preparation facilitating the successful conduct of the VPA Annual Meeting 2008 and organizing other activities and functions during the Meeting. Mr. Le Cong Minh has also delivered souvenirs of the association to the management of Saigon Yasaka and Hai Au hotel and the Organizing Committee of Nha Trang port.

21. After one full day of meeting on the spirit of “Development - Integration”, the VPA Annual Meeting 2008 has concluded successfully all the agenda. The Meeting was closed at 18h00 on 11/09/2008 in Nha Trang city.