Nvidia aims to create a hub that will draw global talent, fostering the development of the semiconductor and artificial intelligence ecosystem in Vietnam.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang. Photos: Nhat Bac

Nvidia CEO and President Jensen Huang shared the plan with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on December 10.

At the meeting, Huang suggested that the hub will play a role in promoting startups, as well as in the design and development of supercomputers, and the creation of future software.

He expressed enthusiasm about participating in the partnership with Vietnam, highlighting the favorable foundation for cooperation between Vietnam and the US in the semiconductor and artificial intelligence sectors.

Huang also praised Vietnam's opportunities, strategies, and focused efforts in the semiconductor and artificial intelligence fields. He underscored the importance of Vietnamese human resources in these domains, emphasizing that success in these areas would propel Vietnam forward in crucial stages of industry and technology.

Identifying Vietnam as a key market, the Nvidia CEO said the company has invested $250 million, recognizing the country's mathematical prowess, strong software capabilities, and strategic position for developing semiconductors and artificial intelligence.

At the meeting, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh highly appreciated the visit of Nvidia's CEO, highlighting the company's strong trust and support for Vietnam.

The Prime Minister emphasized the significance of materializing high-level agreements reached during President Joe Biden's official visit to Vietnam and advancing the Vietnam-US Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, in line with the agreements reached during the Prime Minister's recent trip to the US.

Chinh added that in the newly established Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, both Vietnam and the US have committed to elevating science, technology, and innovation as key pillars of bilateral relations.

The Prime Minister stressed the need to concentrate resources and intelligence, with a specific focus on key areas, particularly the semiconductor industry.

“This would create opportunities for Vietnam to deeply integrate into the global supply chain,” said Chinh.

He noted that the semiconductor industry is an area in which Vietnam has significant potential and advantages,  in line with the strengths of the Vietnamese workforce. Currently, around 6,000 engineers in Vietnam are actively contributing to the semiconductor industry,   for both domestic and international enterprises. The country aims to train 50,000 highly qualified engineers by 2030, with a priority on cultivating expertise in semiconductor circuit design.

Overview of the meeting.

Meanwhile, Vietnam's significant presence in the US, with nearly 30,000 students studying there annually (ranking first among Southeast Asian countries and in the top 5 internationally), and approximately 2.2 million overseas Vietnamese in the US, further underscores the strong bilateral ties, Chinh said.

The Prime Minister urged Nvidiato to establish a strategic, long-term vision for collaboration, supporting Vietnam in crafting and implementing its national semiconductor strategy. This includes developing the semiconductor industry ecosystem across three key stages: design, chip factory construction, and packaging and testing.

The focus also extends to cooperative efforts in infrastructure investment, the establishment of training facilities, research and development centers, and programs for semiconductor engineer training in Vietnam.

Founded in 1993 as a graphics card manufacturer, Nvidia has grown into a leader in accelerated computing, with over 27,000 employees and $27 billion in revenue for the fiscal year 2023.

On December 7, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh hosted a meeting with John Neffeur, President of the US Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA), along with leaders from prominent US semiconductor companies including Intel, Qualcomm, Ampere, ARM, and others.

Vietnam has become an increasingly attractive destination for major players in the semiconductor sector, particularly drawing the attention of notable US corporations such as Intel, Amkor (specializing in packaging and testing), Marvell, Qovor, Qualcomm in design, and Synopsys, Cadence in the provision of chip design tools.