Vietnam, US should strengthen AI, semiconductor collaboration: Party chief

Vietnamese and American businesses should tap the big cooperation potential that exists in the semiconductor and artificial intelligence (AI) sectors, said Party chief and State President To Lam.

Lam was speaking at a workshop on boosting Vietnam-United States collaboration in the two sectors held on Sunday (U.S. time) during his New York visit.

Executives and experts from the world’s leading technological firms and associations like Google, Marvell, and the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) participated in the workshop.

"Vietnam was determined to push for rapid, sustainable growth based on science-technology advancements and innovation. Our three strategic breakthroughs are institutions, infrastructure and human resource development attached to economic restructuring and economic growth remodelling," he said.

Lam noted that developing the semiconductor and AI sectors is Vietnam's strategic choice; and the sectors are expected help boost the development of supporting industries.

As Vietnam is transitioning into a digital-green-circular economy with a priority on innovation, the country will encourage and prioritize hi-tech investments featuring semiconductors, AI, research & development, renewable energy, and green hydrogen. As such, American investors boast massive advantages for involvement in these key areas, he added.

Bilateral cooperation in these areas will be facilitated by the Vietnam-United States comprehensive strategic partnership established in 2023, Lam said.

He also emphasized the numerous advantages that Vietnam presented to investors, including the country’s achievement in training hundreds of thousands of programmers and millions of workers in the information technology (IT) sector.

Vietnam was already home to many technological giants such as Samsung, Amkor, Hana Micron, Intel, Foxconn, and Vietnamese counterparts like Viettel, VNPT and FPT, Lam noted.

Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung informed workshop participants that Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has issued a national semiconductor development strategy until 2030, with a vision until 2050.

In implementing the strategy, a target of having one small-scale semiconductor chip fabrication plant and 10 assembly, packaging and testing (APT) factories by 2030 has been set as part of the country’s efforts to deepen its engagement in the global supply chain, he added.