Aspiration to develop microchip industry

SGGP September 7, 2023 07:41

On September 6, the Management Board of Ho Chi Minh City High-Tech Park (SHTP) launched the Electronics and Semiconductor Center (ESC). Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha, Minister of Science and Technology Huynh Thanh Dat, Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung, Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Phan Van Mai... and many other leaders of ministries and branches attended.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha and Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Phan Van Mai and delegates pressed the button to open the Electronics and Semiconductor Training Center. Photo: CAO THANG

Consolidation to meet investor demands

The Semiconductor Electronics and Microcircuit Training Center was formed from two centers: High-Tech Park Chip Design Training Center (SHTP Chip Design Center - SCDC) and International Electronics Training Center (IETC). In August 2022, SHTP Management Board cooperated with Synopsys Company to establish SCDC. Accordingly, Synopsys sponsored Synopsys software for 3 years worth tens of millions of USD to promote human resource training in the electronics field. In March 2023, SHTP Management Board and Sun Electronics Group Joint Stock Company established IETC Center, providing training programs on management and operation of electronics manufacturing plants according to international standards.

According to Mr. Nguyen Anh Thi, Head of SHTP Management Board, the establishment of the SCDC and IETC models in the past was a very important preparatory step in promoting investment in strategically positioned industries such as electronics and semiconductors. In the following years, SHTP aims to contribute to promoting Vietnam to become a semiconductor design center in the region and the world . “With the goal of forming a training unit large enough to meet the requirements of large investors and create conditions to attract larger-scale international cooperation programs in the future, SHTP Management Board has merged the SCDC and IETC models into a larger-scale ESC Center. This merger is completely consistent with objective reality because the electronics and semiconductor industries have an organic relationship with each other, requiring a synchronous development strategy,” Mr. Nguyen Anh Thi added.

Commitment to promote the microchip industry

Experts say that the fact that Korean microchip design companies follow Samsung into Vietnam, such as SNST & Finger Vina Company in SHTP and CoAsia in Hanoi , and recently the microchip packaging and testing factory projects of Amkor in Bac Ninh and Samsung in Thai Nguyen, shows that the scale of Vietnam's electronics industry is large enough to lead to the development of the semiconductor microchip industry, first with the design and packaging stages.

Aspiration to develop the microchip industry 1

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha, Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Phan Van Mai and other leaders viewed products of the Center for Electronics and Semiconductor Training. Photo: CAO THANG

In the development orientation of the electronics and semiconductor industries, SHTP focuses on attracting investment and positioning the role of ESC in the overall development orientation of these fundamental industries. The goal of developing the electronics and semiconductor industries of Vietnam in the coming period is to develop a strong domestic enterprise system; attract targeted and selective foreign investment (FDI) to serve the development of domestic enterprises.

Speaking at the launching ceremony, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Phan Van Mai said that the Government assigned Ho Chi Minh City to manage and invest in developing SHTP. Over the past 20 years, the city has made efforts and coordinated with central agencies and partners to develop in the right direction, completing the assigned tasks in the first phase. "Recently, the National Assembly issued Resolution 98/2023/QH15 allowing Ho Chi Minh City to pilot a number of specific policy mechanisms, including those for technology development, innovation, and investor incentives... We will continue to study policies to further develop science and technology infrastructure, adding new zones to develop high-tech industries in general, including microchips and semiconductors. Ho Chi Minh City will also continue to pilot policies to support training and research and development," Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Phan Van Mai emphasized.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha expressed his joy with the meaningful models, demonstrating the mark in the process of Ho Chi Minh City implementing Resolution 98 and emphasized that there will not be a strong electronics industry without building an industry of microchips and semiconductors. Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha commented: “The development process is still arduous, and there will be fierce competition. Therefore, to develop the microchip and semiconductor industry, the most important thing is to train high-quality human resources and choose the most scientific and effective solutions. That is, we must promote basic scientific research and understand core technology. To do this, the Government will change and supplement laws on science and technology, education and training, etc. Vietnamese people are very good at math, physics, chemistry, and can do the initial design work to the manufacturing stage, create product models, packaging, etc., thereby developing innovation and mastering technology. The Government is committed to investing resources for science and technology development, investing for the future.”

US companies like Synopsys recognize Vietnam’s enormous potential and its ability to attract foreign investment, world-class brands, and cutting-edge technology. This makes me optimistic about what the United States and Vietnam can achieve in the coming year. With President Joe Biden’s visit to Vietnam, we look forward to enhancing our diplomatic ties and promoting inclusive growth, private sector development, and shared prosperity for both countries.
Ms. SUSAN BURNS, US Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City

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