Vietnam is fast emerging as an attractive investment destination in the promising sectors of artificial intelligence (AI) and semiconductors. With strong backing from government, rapidly expanding skilled manpower and rising FDI, the Southeast Asian nation has become a magnet for global tech firms seeking to diversify their supply chains and tap new growth markets.
Recent events reinforce that goal. Global technology giant Qualcomm has launched a new AI Research & Development Center in Vietnam, its third largest in the world. This is seen as a step to elevate Vietnam’s status as a regional hub for AI innovation and to directly influence Qualcomm’s global product roadmap.
Equally, the US$200 million AI Factory that FPT Corporation is working with Nvidia to develop is indicative of the country’s intent to strengthen its AI and semiconductor capabilities.
Several strategic advantages make Vietnam so attractive. It’s a compelling case due to its large, affordable and skilled labor pool and a stable political environment. The government has taken the initiative to promote the “AI for All” program and the National Strategy on Research, Development, and Application of Artificial Intelligence to 2030.
These range from policies to create a favourable legal environment, improve digital infrastructure and train a specialist workforce – 50,000 semiconductor engineers by 2030 will be trained the country.
The flow of foreign investment shows similar progress It has so far this year registered over $18.4 billion in foreign direct investment, up 66.2 percent year on year, the data showed. A large section of that capital is now moving into high-tech fields such as processing, manufacturing, digital transformation and the AI industry, representing an obvious transition of investment priority.
Obstacles still remain, specifically in terms of training high-quality human resources and reforming administrative procedures, but Vietnam’s strategic location and proactive government posture are lining the country up to become a fulcrum in the global AI and semiconductor value chain.
