The Hanoitimes  - The Liability-limited Company Intel Products Vietnam o­n October 29 officially inaugurated the largest chipset assembling and testing plant ever built in Vietnam.

The factory is located in the Ho Chi Minh City Hi-tech Park and covers an area of over 46,000 square meters.

Addressing the inauguration ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai said the construction shows effective cooperation between Vietnam and the US. The factory, with total foreign investment capital of US$1 billion, is typical for multinational companies which have intention to invest into Vietnam, he noted.

Located o­n an area of 46,000sq.m in the Sai Gon Hi Tech Park in HCM City's District 9, the facility, first announced in 2006, is the largest and most advanced in Intel's global manufacturing network.

Built with an investment of around US$1 billion, the plant began production in mid-2010, starting with chipsets for laptops and mobile devices for Intel customers around the world.

"The opening of the assembly line and test facility in Vietnam is an important event and supports our goal of accelerating economic transformation led by technology-intensive industries," said Hai.

He said Intel was also a committed partner of the Government in efforts to modernise the national education system.

Intel would help build a robust information technology sector in the country while fostering local innovation and generating significant hi-tech job opportunities, said Hai.

Paul Otellini, CEO of the Intel Company, confirmed there have been 400 Vietnamese labourers working in the factory since it was put into operation in mid-2010. It’s expected to create thousands of jobs and make big contributions to Vietnam’s exports value, he said.

Intel President and CEO said: "The Vietnam assembly and test facility will play a key role in our success by becoming a cornerstone of Intel's ability to deliver new innovative products to markets around the world.

"Our customers around the world will use products from this factory to build world-changing technology."

Otellini also spoke highly of agreement that Intel has recently signed with several Government agencies to advance e-government, education, PC and broadband penetration and digital literacy.

Rick Howarth, general manager of Intel Products Vietnam, said the products that Intel manufactures would serve its global customer base and have significant impact o­n Viet Nam's export revenues.

"Intel in Vietnam will create thousands of new hi-tech jobs and will have a multiple effect in the country, drawing in supplier companies that also create job growth for Viet Nam," he said.

Le Hoang Quan, chairman of the HCM City People's Committee, said despite the impacts of the global financial crisis and economic recession that forced Intel to close some of its facilities in other countries, it had pursued the implementation of its project in Viet Nam.

Quan also asked Intel to help HCM City develop support industries at the Sai Gon Hi-tech Park so as to increase localisation of its chip production.