Korean Ambassador to Vietnam Choi Young Sam speaks at the conference.

The event attracted the attention of many high-tech enterprises in Vietnam and Korea. At the conference, experts and high-tech enterprises of the two countries spent time sharing about the situation of the world and regional semiconductor industry as well as experiences and opportunities to expand the cooperation network in the semiconductor field between Vietnam and Korea. Speaking at the conference, Korean Ambassador to Vietnam Choi Young Sam affirmed that the Vietnam - Korea Cooperation Conference in the Semiconductor Industry is an extremely important event. This event reaffirms the sustainable economic cooperation relationship between Vietnam and Korea. In recent times, the two countries have achieved development achievements based on effective economic cooperation, harmonizing the interests of both sides not only in the fields of trade, investment, economy but also in other fields and industries. Thereby, further consolidating and tightening the cooperative relationship between the two sides. With the achievements, following the results achieved in the high-level talks, especially with the official visit to Korea by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh last July, the two sides have not only stopped at discussing the direction of economic cooperation within the framework of the Vietnam - Korea Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, but also shared and agreed on cooperation plans in the high-tech industry such as the semiconductor industry, preparing for new breakthroughs in the bilateral cooperation between Vietnam and Korea. Ambassador Choi Young Sam believes that through this Semiconductor Industry Conference, bilateral cooperation between Vietnam and Korea will not only be marked in traditional manufacturing fields but can also propose detailed plans towards bilateral cooperation in the high-tech industry. The Ambassador asked the delegates at the Conference to share and contribute to the process of building and developing the semiconductor industry in Vietnam, which has been and is being demonstrated by the Vietnamese Government with a very strong and positive will in building human resource training projects as well as implementing plans to develop the semiconductor industry. Korean Ambassador Choi Young Sam affirmed that the Korean Embassy in Vietnam and KOTRA as well as all Korean agencies and organizations will always strive and actively perform their roles to contribute to promoting cooperation in the semiconductor field between the two countries.

Conference scene.

At the Conference, Mr. Vo Xuan Hoai, Deputy Director of the National Innovation Center (Ministry of Planning and Investment) said that currently, in Vietnam, there are more than 40 chip design companies as well as nearly 15 companies participating in packaging, testing and manufacturing semiconductor-related equipment. Among them are many enterprises from Korea such as: Samsung, Hana Micron, Amkor Technology... To create an environment and favorable conditions for the semiconductor industry in Vietnam to develop, the Vietnamese State has shown great political determination in developing this high-tech industry. In all resolutions of the Party, the National Assembly as well as the Government, the semiconductor industry is considered one of the key areas for socio-economic development in the coming time. In particular, the Prime Minister has established a National Committee to direct the development of the semiconductor industry, with the Prime Minister directly as Chairman of the Committee. The Ministry of Planning and Investment has submitted to the Prime Minister for consideration the National Strategy on Semiconductor Industry Development as well as the Project on Human Resource Development for the Semiconductor Industry.

Vietnam currently has a good relationship with international partners, especially with South Korea and the United States in the semiconductor industry. Vietnam has also established the National Innovation Center (NIC) and many concentrated information technology parks are operating, expected to be the nucleus to promote innovation, creativity and development of the semiconductor industry. Many information technology enterprises with development orientations in this field can coordinate and support in training human resources as well as use the human resources of these enterprises. According to Mr. Vo Xuan Hoai, in the near future, the Ministry of Planning and Investment will submit to the Government a Decree on specific mechanisms for the National Innovation Center (NIC); including mechanisms for semiconductor enterprises when participating in development at the National Innovation Center. In addition to specific institutions, mechanisms and policies, Vietnam also focuses on investing in infrastructure for the semiconductor industry. Recently, Vietnam has been focusing on developing the highway system across the country, strengthening the North-South power transmission system to ensure the prevention of electrical risks when participating in the production and packaging process in the semiconductor industry; completing the logistics system of seaports and airports, focusing on investing in 3 high-tech parks of Hoa Lac, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City... Regarding the situation and development trends of the global semiconductor industry, two experts in semiconductor industry development consulting, Mr. Il-Dong Kwon, General Director of The Boston Consulting Group Limited Liability Company - a branch of BCG Group in Vietnam and Mr. Changwook Kim, CEO of The Boston Consulting Group Seoul Office, commented that Vietnam is in a very favorable position to both export and receive high-tech components; including the semiconductor industry and has the opportunity to become one of the important links in the supply chain of the global semiconductor industry. According to the two experts, the global semiconductor industry is currently shifting in a “butterfly shape” direction. Instead of being concentrated in a few countries/territories such as the United States, Japan, Taiwan (China), many countries have joined the race with the ambition to become a global semiconductor manufacturing center. Vietnam can benefit from this trend if it correctly identifies the focus and key investment points for developing the semiconductor industry. Accordingly, the two experts suggested that Vietnam can participate in the stage of designing microchips or developing semiconductor chips for smart cars, chips in the mid-range technology segment, semiconductor packaging, etc.