General Secretary and President To Lam and King Frederik X of Denmark, together with delegates and business representatives from both countries. (Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA)

On October 20, 2026, in the Kingdom of Denmark, within the framework of the Vietnam–Denmark Business Forum, Hateco Group and APM Terminals (APMT), a member of A.P. Moller–Maersk, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on cooperation in the research, investment, development, and operation of railway freight terminals in Vietnam.

Establishing an Integrated Multimodal Logistics Network

The signing ceremony took place during the State visit to Denmark by General Secretary and President To Lam and his spouse, Ngo Phuong Ly, from October 19 to 21, 2026.

At the Forum, General Secretary and President To Lam and King Frederik X of Denmark witnessed the signing of 16 cooperation documents between ministries, government agencies, local authorities, businesses, and organizations from the two countries, including the MOU between Hateco and APM Terminals.

Under the MOU, Hateco and APM Terminals will jointly study and propose investments in the development and operation of railway freight terminals in Hai Phong, including cargo handling facilities and storage yards. The proposed infrastructure is intended to strengthen connectivity between industrial parks, manufacturing centers, logistics hubs, and seaports, supporting the development of an integrated multimodal logistics network.

The proposed facilities are expected to adopt modern operating models supported by digital technologies for cargo handling, inventory management, storage, and transshipment.

Once integrated with seaports and regional transport networks, the railway freight infrastructure could help optimize cargo flows, reduce pressure on road transport, improve logistics efficiency, and strengthen the competitiveness of Vietnam's imports and exports.

The agreement also marks an expansion of Hateco and APM Terminals' cooperation from international container terminal investment and operations into the research and development of railway infrastructure, with the aim of establishing an integrated multimodal logistics network.

Mr. Tran Van Ky, Chairman of Hateco Group, and representatives of APM Terminals exchange the signed MOU, marking an expansion of their partnership into railway infrastructure and logistics.

Building on a Strong Foundation of International Cooperation

As Vietnam accelerates investment in strategic transport infrastructure, particularly railways and multimodal transportation, the agreement reflects the two companies' forward-looking approach to addressing the growing demand for logistics connectivity.

In Northern Vietnam, a major industrial and export hub, the proposed railway freight infrastructure has the potential to diversify container transport options and strengthen connections between industrial parks, the Port of Hai Phong, and international shipping routes.

Previously, the two companies collaborated on the development of Hateco Haiphong International Container Terminal (HHIT), located in the Lach Huyen port area of Hai Phong.

Developed as a modern deep-water container terminal with a focus on green and smart port operations, HHIT incorporates advanced technologies in terminal management and operations. The terminal is designed to accommodate container vessels of up to 18,000 TEU and provide direct connections to international shipping routes.

HHIT's go-live in April 2025 marked a significant milestone in the partnership, contributing to the expansion of seaport infrastructure capacity in Northern Vietnam while demonstrating Hateco's ability to turn international cooperation projects into reality.

Building on their cooperation in Hai Phong, in April 2026, Hateco and APM Terminals announced their partnership to develop the Da Nang International Gateway Terminal (DIGT) project in Lien Chieu, Da Nang.

The project is planned to comprise eight container berths, with a projected annual design capacity of more than 5.7 million TEU, and is intended to become a new international trade gateway in Central Vietnam.

From container terminal projects in Hai Phong and Da Nang to exploring opportunities in railway freight infrastructure, Hateco and APM Terminals are progressively broadening the scope of their cooperation toward integrated infrastructure and multimodal connectivity.

Hateco Group is a leading Vietnamese enterprise in seaport infrastructure investment and development, while APM Terminals, the port arm of A.P. Moller–Maersk, brings extensive international terminal operating experience.

The partnership between the two companies is built on a foundation of international container terminal projects, combining Hateco's investment and infrastructure development capabilities with APM Terminals' international operating experience, and is now expanding into the exploration of railway freight terminal development.

Source: Báo Đầu tư |