Hanoi (VNA) - Vietnam welcomes and encourages investments in hi-techand semiconductor industries by providing appropriate mechanisms, incentives and modern infrastructure,said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.
PM Chinh made the statement at a reception in Hanoi on March20 for Karthik Rammohan, Group Vice President of Global Operations at Lam Research, one of the leading US semiconductor manufacturing equipment providers, and representatives of the Seojin Company of the Republic of Korea. The two companies are collaborating in semiconductor chip production in Vietnam.
Lam Research, headquartered in California, recorded a revenue of 19 billion USD in 2022. As of March 2023, it had employed over 18,700 employees.
Rammohan said Lam Research is looking to expandoperations and diversify its supply chain in Asia. In Vietnam, thecompany is planning to collaborate with Seojin, which already has factories in northern Bac Ninh and Bac Giang provinces, to develop factories and establish a supply chain with an investment of 1-2 billion USD in the first phase. After the first phase, it will possibly invest directly or expanding its operations in the Southeast Asian country.
He expressed interest in Vietnam's investmentpromotion policies and programmes that could support the development of adomestic supply chain ecosystem for the semiconductor industry.
PM Chinh highlighted sci-tech and innovation as important cooperation areas in Vietnam's comprehensive strategic partnershipswith both the US and the RoK. He pointed to Vietnam's efforts in training aworkforce of 50,000-100,000 engineers by 2030 to meet the demand of enterprises.
Meanwhile, major tech players such as Samsung,Intel, and Foxconn are already present in Vietnam, he said, adding that many other leading globalcorporations are continuing to explore opportunities and investment in thecountry.
In the spirit of harmonising interests and sharing risks for mutualdevelopment, he expected that both companies would focus on research anddevelopment (R&D) activities, technology transfer, thus helping todevelop a robust semiconductor ecosystem in Vietnam.
He called for continued close collaboration betweenthe companies and relevant Vietnamese authorities and localities to ensure a smooth and legalinvestment process./.