At the inauguration ceremony (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has asked Samsung toconsider Vietnam its important and global strategic base in terms of production,research and development.
Hemade the request when attending an inauguration ceremony for Samsung R&D Centre inHanoi on December 23.
Built from March 2020 at a total cost of 200 million USD, the 16-storey facility sitson a site of over 11,603 sq.m, becoming the largest of its kind in SoutheastAsia and one of the 18 Samsung R&D Centres across the world.
Samsungplans to research and develop smart phones, tablets, hardware and software at the facility, employing about 3,000 workers.
Upto now, half of Samsung's total global supply of mobile phones are beingproduced in Vietnam. The conglomerate is also developing and testing softwareof mobile devices and networks in the country.
Inhis speech, PM Chinh hailed Samsung as the biggest Korean investor and also thebiggest foreign investor in Vietnam with a total registered capital of nearly20 billion USD, contributing to Vietnam’s export turnover, job creation and revenuesto the State budget.
Thelaunch of the R&D Centre in Hanoi is evidence of Samsung’s orientationsand commitments to long-term operations in the country, he said, adding that itis also a good start to deliver its close-ended production chain in electricityand electronics in Vietnam.
Onthe occasion, the PM asked centrally-run agencies and local authorities tooffer all possible support to foreign investors, including Samsung, to dobusiness in Vietnam effectively in the long term, in the spirit of harmonisinginterests and sharing risks.
Hesuggested Samsung step up specific cooperation activities in researching and linking with thenetwork of Vietnamese experts and intellectuals at institutes, universities,technology enterprises and Vietnam National Innovation Centre, so as to push ahead technology projects that both meet Samsung's needs and create positive impacts on Vietnam.
PM Pham Minh Chinh arrives at the ceremony. (Photo: VNA) TheVietnamese leader wished that the tech giant would quickly prepare necessaryconditions for the early trial production of flip-chip ball grid array products, toward massproduction at its factory in the northern province of Thai Nguyen from July2023.
Vietnamwill continue creating favourable conditions for Samsung todo business effectively and sustainably in the country, he stressed.
Earlier, duringa reception in Hanoi for Samsung’s Executive Chairman Lee Jae-yong who came to Vietnam for the inauguration of the R&D centre, PMChinh thanked Samsung for contributing to social welfare and the fight againstCOVID-19 in Vietnam.
Hesuggested Samsung increase the local content of its products produced in Vietnam and reduce import. He also expressed hope that more Vietnamese could join Samsung’sleadership board in the country.
Lee,for his part, said Samsung will step up workforce training in Vietnam to helpthem meet global working requirements, as well as work closely with Vietnam tofurther enhance the local content in both hardware and software products and recruitmore Vietnamese workers./.
