Boeing seeks to boost supply chain in Vietnam

Boeing opened its new permanent Vietnam office in Hanoi on Friday as the aerospace giant embarks on its mission to turn the country into a major supplier for the global aerospace industry.

“Vietnam is one of our most important countries. It is among our top 20 nations globally,” said Brendan Nelson, president of Boeing Global. “We have six existing suppliers and we're working with five others that we're bringing up to speed.”

“Boeing is doing everything we can to assist Vietnamese airlines in operations and in the acquisition of new aircraft,” said the top Boeing executive.

“Vietnam is a respected and influential member of ASEAN. It has deeply committed to the Indo-Pacific economic framework. A nation of 100 million people with economic growth in excess of 6%, and our determination is to do everything we can to support the further development and growth of the aviation industry in Vietnam.”

Nelson recalled the first Boeing Vietnam Aviation Industry conference late last year.

“This attracted 100 companies, suppliers, and universities. And of course, Vietnamese aviation officials. In March this year, we held a four-day seminar to provide training and assistance in every aspect of airport and aviation management. And we have also held a suppliers’ conference.”

Asked about the role of the new permanent office, he said: “The purpose of the permanent office is to house our growing workforce, to demonstrate to the Vietnamese government, the aviation industry, and the Vietnamese people that this is a permanent and long-term commitment to aviation in Vietnam by Boeing.”

Nelson stressed: “The number of people that we employ, Vietnamese people that we employ, will grow.”

The executive said Boeing stands by the Vietnamese government’s commitment to net zero emissions by 2050.

“We are completely committed to decarbonizing aviation, and every aspect of aviation in the manufacture of aircraft, in the management of energy and waste, and of course, the use of fuels.

“We admire the vision of the Vietnamese government in working and investing in hydrogen. Boeing has been doing a lot of work testing hydrogen-powered and electric-powered aircraft.”

Over the next 30 years, the key solution is sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), he explained. Boeing has almost completed a detailed study of the production of SAF, feedstock, sources, and others

“This is an area where we would like to work with Vietnam because Vietnam is ideally placed for the feedstock for SAF, and perhaps its production.”

Boeing would like to explore with Vietnam how the giant can work together for the production of and uptake of SAF for aviation whilst seeing a longer-term place for hydrogen, Nelson added.

Boeing has been a partner of Vietnam’s aerospace sector for almost three decades and has focused on capacity building and collaboration with Vietnamese companies in manufacturing, engineering services, aviation safety, sustainability, and research and technology.