Vietnam calls on Apple to set up R&D centre to boost innovation

During talks on September 24 with Apple’s vice president of Government Affairs, Nick Ammann, Meta’s president of Global Affairs, Nick Clegg, and Supermicro co-founder and senior vice president, Wally Liaw, Lam encouraged US groups to support Vietnamese enterprises in scaling up production and integrating into global supply chains.

He proposed establishing a research and development (R&D) centre at Vietnam’s National Innovation Centre (NIC), and called for initiatives such as technology scholarships for Vietnamese students in fields including AI, semiconductors, and programming.

"We welcome the opportunity to work more closely with Apple and its partners to integrate Vietnam into the global supply chain," Lam said, adding that the country is keen to advance its tech ambitions.

Apple’s Ammann described Vietnam as both a key market and an increasingly important production hub for the company. "Vietnam has become a critical location for the assembly of several major Apple products," he said, crediting the Vietnamese government’s support for enabling Apple’s expansion. Ammann extended an invitation to Vietnam’s leadership to visit Apple’s headquarters in California.

Executives from Apple, Meta, and Supermicro underscored their commitment to Vietnam, praising the country’s role in their global strategies. Meta’s Clegg outlined the company’s plans to expand its presence in Vietnam, particularly in the production of VR headsets for the metaverse.

"After our success in social media and messaging, VR is our next frontier, and Vietnam will play a significant role in that," Clegg said.

He also revealed Meta’s upcoming launch of Meta AI in Vietnam, with plans to introduce AI tools directly accessible through mobile devices.

"Our goal is to bring advanced AI to every user in Vietnam," he said, emphasising Meta’s long-term commitment to fostering innovation in the country.

Lam welcomed Meta’s initiatives, urging the company to deepen its collaboration with Vietnamese agencies, particularly the NIC, to accelerate partnerships in AI, the Internet of Things, and other advanced technologies. "Meta’s strengths in these emerging technologies align well with Vietnam’s vision for the future," he noted.

Supermicro’s Liaw highlighted Vietnam’s potential as a high-tech market, citing the country’s favourable policies for innovation. He noted that Supermicro had recently signed an MoU with Sovico Group to explore further collaboration in Vietnam.

"We see enormous potential for AI growth in Vietnam, and we are committed to playing a part in that journey," Liaw said.

Lam praised US companies for their global success and continued investment in Vietnam, saying, "Vietnam will ensure that American investors, including Apple, Meta, and Supermicro, can operate sustainably and effectively in our market, with full support under our legal framework."

Masan Group has urged the government to streamline procedures for initial public offerings (IPOs) and revise listing requirements to align with international standards, arguing that the current system hampers Vietnam's capital market potential and restricts growth for businesses seeking flexible funding.

Vietnam's Party General Secretary and President To Lam has urged Boeing to explore investment opportunities in Vietnam, specifically in establishing aircraft component manufacturing facilities and a regional-scale maintenance centre connected to the country’s major airports.