Vietnam's leadership has called on US chipmaker Qualcomm and South Korean conglomerate Samsung Electronics to increase capital investments in research and development, artificial intelligence, and semiconductor manufacturing. The country is seeking to strengthen its position as a regional innovation hub and modernize the technological foundation of its economy. According to an official government statement, the talks took place on Thursday in the capital Hanoi and covered a wide range of promising areas for cooperation.
General Secretary and President To Lam, during a meeting with Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon, discussed expanding investments in areas such as artificial intelligence, the semiconductor industry, robotics, fifth- and sixth-generation communications networks, data centers, and next-generation communication technologies. The head of state emphasized that Vietnam is transitioning to an economic growth model based on scientific achievements, innovation, digital transformation, and intelligent systems. According to industry reports, Amon expressed his intention to make the company's Vietnamese presence its third-largest AI research and development center in the world. Qualcomm already operates a research center in Hanoi and collaborates with local technology companies Viettel and VinSmart.
Prime Minister Le Minh Hung held a separate meeting on the same day with Samsung Electronics CEO Roh Tae-moon. The prime minister stated that Vietnam expects Samsung to remain a key strategic partner in strengthening the country's technological capabilities, developing its industrial base, and deepening integration into global value chains. Hung commended the South Korean conglomerate's contribution to Vietnam's industrial development and export potential, noting that the country has become one of the company's most important global manufacturing hubs. The cumulative export volume from Samsung's mobile phone factories located in Vietnam reached $500 billion by the end of June over seventeen years of production activity, with the corporation's total accumulated investment standing at $24 billion.
A Samsung representative, in turn, confirmed plans to increase investments and expand educational programs in Vietnam. Roh Tae-moon highlighted active cooperation with the government to provide local enterprises with greater opportunities to participate in the corporation's global supply chain. These agreements reflect Vietnam's strategic course toward attracting advanced technologies and creating conditions for the transfer of expertise from international technology leaders to domestic companies, which aligns with the country's long-term goals of economic modernization and enhancing its competitiveness in the global technology landscape.