HCM City, AMD sign MoU to develop high-tech, AI ecosystem
Under the MoU, AMD will support several key initiatives spearheaded by HCM City’s authorities, including piloting policies, co-hosting innovation events, and evaluating the investment environment within the Saigon Hi-Tech Park.
An overview of the MoU signing ceremony between the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City and US semiconductor design giant Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (Photo: VNA)
HCM City (VNA) – The People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh𒐪 City and US semiconductor design giant Advanced Micro Devices, Inc (AMD) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on June 12, marking a significant step in advancing its high-tech and artificial intelligence (AI) ecosystem.
Under the MoU, AMD will support several key initiatives spearheaded by HCM City’s authorities, including piloting policies, co-hosting innovation events, and evaluating the investment environment within the Saigon Hi-Tech Park.
The company will also coordinate the organisation of intensive training courses on AI, microchip design, and semiconductor technology for students, lecturers, and technology experts in the city. Additionally, AMD will explore the establishment of a Research and Development (R&D) Centre in HCM City, promote the application of its advanced technologies in sectors such as education and healthcare, and provide consultancy on pilot policy models to foster innovation and digital transformation.
Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Vo Van Hoan speaks at the event (Photo: VNA)
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Vo Van Hoan hailed the partnership as a meaningful development step not only for the city but for Vietnam as a whole.
Hoan said this collaboration reflects the mutual trust and shared commitment between one of Vietnam’s most dynamic cities and one of the US’s foremost technology companies. “It is a strategic move to position Ho Chi Minh City as a leading hub in Southeast Asia for electronics, semiconductors, and artificial intelligence.”
Ryan Sim, Senior Director for Asia-Pacific and Japan at AMD, reaffirmed the company’s long-term commitment to Vietnam, saying that it pledged to work closely with HCM City to set up an international-standard training centre, focusing on human resource development, innovation, and technology transfer.
He went on to say that AMD has already begun piloting AI applications in diagnostic imaging at the city’s People’s Hospital 115, with the aim of enhancing diagnostic accuracy and treatment efficiency. The company plans to expand its AI applications beyond healthcare to further embed advanced technologies into daily life.
Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha, who attended the signing ceremony, commended the city’s efforts to foster international cooperation in strategic sectors such as semiconductors and AI.
He emphasised the importance of translating the MoU into “concrete, actionable steps with clear timelines and assigned responsibilities.” Ha also stressed that Vietnam’s pursuit of chip and semiconductor technology is a strategically sound move amid ongoing global digital transformation and technological competition.
In the long term, Vietnam must strive to master the design phase, especially chip architecture design, which requires creativity and high-level technical expertise, he added.
Founded in 1969, AMD is a global leader in semiconductor design, producing central processing units (CPUs), graphics processing units (GPUs), and integrated chips. The company currently employs more than 28,000 staff worldwide and reported revenue of over 25.8 billion USD in 2024./.
The continuous influx of investment proposals from US technology corporations is a positive signal, demonstrating HCM City’s strong appeal to high-quality capital, especially in technology and real estate sectors.
AI and semiconductors have been identified as core sectors for development by both Vietnam and the US in the coming decade, thus contributing to balancing trade and investment between the two countries.
Deputy PM Nguyen Chi Dung said Vietnam boasts advantages for developing the AI and semiconductor industries, noting that the country already has a relatively strong ecosystem for the sector.
Vietnamese businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), must embrace digital and AI transformations to remain competitive and achieve sustainable growth, experts said.
Under the European Union (EU)’s global initiative on Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Risk Mitigation Centres of Excellence (CoE), Vietnam has implemented numerous projects aimed at strengthening national capacity in detecting, preventing, and preparing for CBRN-related threats.
The course aims to promote knowledge exchange between scientific and educational schools from different countries, while deepening participants’ expertise in modern technology and technical education. It comprises two main specialisations of electronics-automation and nuclear technology.
ANTARA and VNA can design global-scale cooperation programmes or joint media campaigns, demonstrating the comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and Indonesia, as well as the cooperation between the two national news agencies.
As Vietnam’s digital transformation accelerates, both the frequency and severity of cyberattacks are growing. The National Cybersecurity Association (NCA) reported that in 2024 alone, there were some 659,000 separate cybersecurity incidents, impacting around 46.15% of government agencies and businesses.
A key highlight will be the technology cluster pavilion, showcasing top enterprises selected for their innovation, market potential, and practical applications. These firms will display flagship products and solutions, supported by government policies to strengthen the tech sector.
Since 2022, more than 500 Vietnamese startups have engaged in Google’s Startup Academy, Google for Startups Accelerator, and Google Startup Masterclass. Nearly 100 of these firms received support to develop and improve their products, benefiting more than 300,000 customers and creating over 300 new jobs through successful fundraising and team expansion amidst Vietnam’s competitive economy.
Over the past three decades, Binh Duong has cemented its status as one of Vietnam’s most dynamic industrial hubs, building a robust foundation in manufacturing, exports, and investment. The province now has 30 operational industrial parks spanning over 13,000 hectares, with an occupancy rate exceeding 90%.
The diplomat emphasised that Vietnam places the highest priority on the development of science, technology, and innovation, viewing them as critical drivers for the country’s advancement in the new development era.
The PM revealed Vietnam’s plan to develop nuclear power in the near future, and called on the Swedish side to assist Vietnam in developing and refining legal and policy frameworks for the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes; training and developing human resources; ensuring nuclear safety; and conducting training and drills to improve incident management capabilities.
More than an art showcase, the second “Technology with heart” contest seeks to inspire innovation and spotlight the humanistic values that technology can bring into daily life, expected to contribute to a sustainable digital future.
The average speed of the national mobile broadband network remained stable, with download speeds reaching 76.86 Mbps and upload speeds reaching 26.98 Mbps.
The centre is a joint initiative between Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Vietnam’s Ministry of Science and Technology, with PTIT and the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) serving as co-leads, and global telecommunications giant Nokia as founding industry partner.
The new centre, staffed by a team of scientists, researchers, and AI specialists working in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, forms part of Qualcomm’s global AI research group.
As a flagship initiative of the community project “Digital Literacy for All”, the programme forms part of a national scheme to equip 20 million young people with digital business skills.
The organisers hope the competition will help shape a generation of exceptional engineers who will make significant contributions to Vietnam’s scientific and technological progress in this era of transformation.
In the digital age and amidst the Fourth Industrial Revolution, IP plays an increasingly critical role, not only in safeguarding inventions but also in reducing copyright infringement and curbing piracy.
Ambassador Nguyen Minh Vu laid stress on the significance of the Hanoi Convention, particularly to the Asia – Pacific, to handling legal gaps in international cooperation against rapidly increasing global cybercrime.
