Vietnam pushes Qualcomm, Samsung for deeper AI and chip investments
Vietnam's leaders have asked Qualcomm and Samsung to expand AI, semiconductor, and R&D investments as the country pursues a tech-driven growth model.
Vietnamese leaders have called on US chip designer Qualcomm and South Korea's Samsung Electronics to scale up their investments in artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and research and development, as the country pushes to become a regional innovation hub.
At a meeting in Hanoi on Thursday, Communist Party General Secretary and President To Lam urged Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon to increase investment in areas such as AI, semiconductors, robotics, 5G/6G, data centres, and next-generation connectivity technologies, according to a government statement.
Lam said Vietnam is shifting toward a growth model driven by science, technology, innovation, digital transformation, and AI, and welcomed further investment. Amon was quoted as saying Qualcomm aims to develop its Vietnam presence into the company's third-largest AI research and development hub globally.
Qualcomm already operates an R&D centre in Hanoi and has worked with Vietnamese firms including Viettel and VinSmart.
Separately, Prime Minister Le Minh Hung told Samsung Electronics CEO Roh Tae-moon that Vietnam wants Samsung to remain a key partner in strengthening the country's technological capabilities, developing its industrial base, and integrating more deeply into global value chains.
Hung praised Samsung's contribution to Vietnam's industrial development and exports, noting the country is one of the company's most important manufacturing hubs globally. Total exports from Samsung's mobile phone manufacturing entities in Vietnam reached $500 billion by the end of June since production began 17 years ago. Samsung has invested $24 billion in Vietnam so far.
Roh said Samsung plans more investment and training in Vietnam and is working with the government to help local firms participate more deeply in its global supply chain.