Washington DC (VNA) – Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinhhad a working lunch with chief executive officers of leading US enterprisesin the semiconductor industry in Washington DC on September 19 morning (localtime).

The event, part of his trip to attend the high-level week ofthe 78th United Nations General Assembly and bilateral activities inthe US, was also attended by US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper andPresident and CEO of the US’s Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) JohnNeuffer.

The US businesspeople spoke highly of thepotential of the semiconductor industry in Vietnam, which boasts high-qualityhuman resources and increasingly improved capacity of local enterprises andtraining establishments.      
         
They held that the two countries’ cooperation potential in this industryis substantial and highly meaningful for bilateral relations in the new period.

Participantsdiscussed investment opportunities in Vietnam and proposed cooperation measuresfor developing a semiconductor ecosystem in the country, with the US being astrategic partner of leading importance. In the long term, they said, US firmscan consider the possibility of building chip factories in Vietnam.
         
PM Chinh said that aside from existing cooperation focuses, in the recent statementon establishing the countries’ comprehensive strategic partnership, Vietnam andthe US agreed to turn science - technology and innovation into a new pillar ofbilateral ties.

He asked the two countries’ enterprisesto coordinate actively with each other and prioritise some focal fields ofVietnam, including the semiconductor industry.

Applauding the semiconductor companies that have invested andoperated in Vietnam – a contribution to the elevation of bilateral relations, the Vietnamese government leader called on US semiconductor enterprises to continue investing more inthe country in all steps, from infrastructure building, technology transfer,design, production, distribution, and manpower training with the participationof both countries’ businesses, research institutions, and trainingestablishments.

That will create conditions for improving human resourcesquality and Vietnamese firms’ capacity, and gradually helping the countryfurther engage in value and supply chains of the global semiconductor industry,he went on.

Developing the semiconductor industry matches the current globaltrend as well as the potential and resources of Vietnam while generating benefitsfor people, so Vietnamese people will take an active and effective part in thisprocess, he added.

PMChinh went on to say that the Vietnamese Government, ministries, and sectorswill create an equal and healthy business environment and provide the bestpossible conditions for foreign enterprises, including semiconductor companiesof the US, to operate stably, effectively, and sustainably in the country. Heemphasised the spirit of harmonised interests, risk sharing, and mutualbenefits to contribute to the countries’ relations.

On thisoccasion, the PM witnessed the exchange of a memorandum ofunderstanding (MoU) on the implementation of activities to boost the semiconductorchip designing and developing capacity in Vietnam between the Vietnam NationalInnovation Centre (NIC) under the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Cadence Design Systems, Inc.; an MoU on developinghuman resources for the semiconductor industry in Vietnam between the NIC andArizona State University; and another on developing human resources for hi-techindustries between the Vietnamese Ministry of Education and Training andIntel./.