U.S. President Clinton Visits Vietnam Terminal

19 Nov 2000 - HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam - U.S. President Bill Clinton on November 19 used APL's operation at the Vietnam International Container Terminal (VICT) to highlight the importance of free trade between Vietnam and the U.S.

"I wanted to come here today to this remarkable place which symbolizes Vietnam's gateway to the future," Clinton said in his address.

Together with VICT officials, APL hosted the President to showcase the terminal and also to promote the wearing of motorcycle helmets for children in Vietnam. The terminal is a joint venture among NOL, Japan's Mitsui & Co. and Vietnam's Southern Waterborne Transport Corporation (SOWATCO).

The event included employees, Vietnamese and multinational corporations and government officials. Clinton's trip to Vietnam was his last planned to Asia while in office (his second and final term ends on January 20, 2001).

In his remarks introducing Clinton, NOL Group President and CEO Flemming Jacobs noted that the terminal represented much more than just free trade in Vietnam. "International trade can and does break down barriers and help develop relationships between people and countries," he said.

Promoting Motorcycle Safety
An example is the multinational motorcycle-helmet safety initiative for children, co-sponsored by APL, the Asia Injury Prevention Foundation, the Ford Motor Company, AIG and UNICEF. Called "Helmets for Kids," the program is supported by government officials from both Vietnam and the United States.

Motorcycles play a significant role in personal transportation in Vietnam, which has one of the world's highest traffic-fatality rates. Statistics show that only 3% of the country's motorcycle owners currently wear helmets.

As part of the program, the Asia Injury Prevention Foundation has helped develop and obtain thousands of children's safety helmets that have been specifically tailored to meet the unique traffic and climatic conditions of Vietnam. Clinton launched the program at the terminal by presenting helmets to a large group of children.

"This is a signal of APL's strong commitment to the local community," Jacobs said about the Company's sponsorship. Added Dan McHugh, APL's president for Asia and the Middle East, "Part of changing the perception of using helmets in Vietnam and helping save young lives is making these helmets readily available. We are committing our international network to the task of bringing the helmets to Vietnam from the U.S. Just the thought of being able to save a Vietnamese child made us jump at this opportunity to assist. It is a natural fit with our ongoing commitment to Vietnam."

VICT: Vietnam's Global Gateway
The terminal, which opened in 1999 and where APL is the largest customer, is an important asset to Vietnam's growing role in international trade.

"The VICT facility has allowed APL to offer customers inside and outside of Vietnam services which have helped trade growth in the region," McHugh said. "It is a highly successful joint venture involving interests in Vietnam, Singapore and Japan, and is the only dedicated modern container terminal in Vietnam. It is a vital part APL's international network."

The terminal is the only one in Vietnam that uses sophisticated computer systems to enhance port operations. The terminal's cranes can handle between 25 and 30 container moves per hour. Operating on a 24-hour, 365-day basis, the terminal employs more than 600 persons.