A subsidiary of Thaco Agri has secured approval to develop phase one of the Nam Pleiku inland container depot (ICD) in Vietnam’s central province of Gia Lai, with a total investment of VND250 billion ($9.7 million).

The Gia Lai provincial People's Committee has approved the investment policy and designated Thagri Gia Lai Agriculture Co., Ltd. as the project developer. Construction is scheduled to begin in December 2026.

The project will cover 10 hectares and have an operating term of 50 years. The developer will contribute VND50 billion ($1.94 million) in equity, with the remaining VND200 billion ($7.77 million) to be raised from other sources.

Quy Nhon port in Gia Lai province, central Vietnam. Photo courtesy of VTC News.

With a designed annual capacity of 50,000 TEUs, the depot will provide facilities for receiving, consolidating, storing, loading, unloading and transshipping cargo.

Its planned facilities include around 20,000 square meters of warehouse space, comprising conventional, cold-storage and bonded warehouses, as well as 30,000 square meters of container yards and cargo handling and storage areas.

The development will also include internal roads, parking areas, administrative offices, wastewater treatment facilities, green spaces and supporting infrastructure.

Established on October 5, 2021, Thagri Gia Lai Agriculture was formerly known as Truong Hai Gia Lai Cattle Breeding Co. It has charter capital of VND2.3 trillion ($89.35 million) and is wholly owned by Truong Hai Agriculture JSC (Thaco Agri), a member of the multi-sector corporation Thaco Group.

The project forms part of Gia Lai's broader plan to develop an inland port network under its revised provincial master plan for 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050. The plan aims to improve the efficiency of import and export cargo transportation across the province.

Planned developments include the Tuy Phuoc inland port cluster, comprising Quy Nhon and Thi Nai inland ports, as well as facilities in Le Thanh and Nam Pleiku. The province also plans an additional inland port in Dong Pleiku and facilities integrated with logistics centers and transport infrastructure to serve industrial parks, economic zones and urban areas.

In 2021-2025, Gia Lai attracted investment in two port projects in Quy Nhon ward: the upgrade of Quy Nhon port's berth No. 1 and Quy Nhon port expansion (phase one) through 2030, both developed by Quy Nhon Port JSC.

Once operational, the Nam Pleiku depot is expected to expand warehousing and logistics capacity, supporting cargo transport and transshipment in Pleiku and the wider Central Highlands region.

Last year, the coastal province of Binh Dinh and the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai were merged to form the current Gia Lai, which borders Dak Lak, Quang Ngai, Cambodia and the East Sea.