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| Mr. Na Ki Hong, CEO of Samsung Electronic Vietnam |
At the Vietnam-Korea Economic Forum held in Hanoi on April 23, senior leaders and business executives from both countries outlined plans to expand cooperation from smart manufacturing and AI applications to semiconductors and next-generation infrastructure. The event also saw the signing of 73 cooperation agreements, highlighting the growing confidence of businesses.
Nha Ki Hong, CEO of Samsung Electronics Vietnam, highlighted the company’s continued efforts to help Vietnamese companies improve their production capacity and develop smart factories as part of a broader strategy towards shared prosperity.
The company is also expanding programs to train and develop Vietnam’s technical talent and strengthening its long-term commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation.
According to the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), the two countries are moving toward a “shared innovation community” centered on cutting-edge science and technology, building on South Korea’s experience and Vietnam’s growth potential.
KIST President Oh Sang-lok said, “We should leverage South Korea’s expertise and Vietnam’s dynamism to build a joint innovation ecosystem centered on the three pillars of human resources, science and technology, and industry.”
He added that the two countries can jointly tackle industrial and social challenges through joint research and applying South Korean AI factory solutions to Vietnamese companies as testbeds. This has the potential to accelerate digital transformation and improve added value for manufacturing.
In addition to this, Vietnam’s rare earth and biological resources, combined with South Korea’s advanced materials and processing technologies, have the potential to diversify global supply chains and support the development of new industries.
South Korea is also expected to transfer its proven capabilities in semiconductor manufacturing, laying the foundations for Vietnam’s chip industry while enabling both countries to enter high-value sectors.
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Vietnamese technology companies are also positioning themselves as key partners in the next phase of cooperation.
Nguyen Trung Trinh, chairman of CMC Corporation, said the company is increasing its investments in digital and data infrastructure and plans to develop up to 150MW of capacity over the next five years, with a total investment of $2 billion to $5 billion.
“We welcome Korean partners to collaborate on these projects. Our priorities include joint development of core technologies, advancement of AI applications in real business environments, and joint development of next-generation AI chips,” he said.
He added that CMC aims to serve as a bridge to connect Vietnam’s innovation ecosystem and South Korea’s technological capabilities to create common value.
Meanwhile, FPT Corporation Chairman Truong Gia Binh pointed to three major global changes shaping the business environment: rising uncertainty, the disruptive impact of AI, and increasing competition, especially with China.
“AI will be at the core of how companies in Vietnam and South Korea can respond to these challenges,” he said.
Mr. Binh proposed the establishment of a Vietnam-Korea strategic technology committee to accelerate cooperation in key areas such as AI, semiconductors, unmanned aerial vehicles, quantum technology, and cybersecurity, with strong support from the Vietnamese and Korean governments.
At the forum, Finance Minister Ngo Van Tuan and South Korean Minister of Industry, Trade, and Resources Kim Jong-kwang witnessed the signing of 73 agreements, including memorandums of understanding, investment approvals, and investment certificates.
Business leaders say these developments reflect a shift in Vietnam-Korea cooperation from scale to quality, with greater emphasis on technology, innovation and resilient supply chains.
Choi Tae-won, president of the Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said, “For Korean companies, Vietnam is not only a promising market but also a long-term partner for shared growth. Today’s signing ceremony marks a new step in expanding cooperation between Vietnam and Korea.”
With strong collaboration between governments and businesses, both countries now aim to translate these efforts into concrete projects and position Vietnam and South Korea as key partners in the next wave of regional and global growth.
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Vietnam-Korea Forum outlines three pillars of strategic partnership
Vietnam and South Korea pledged to deepen cooperation in industry, investment, science and technology at the bilateral economic forum held in Hanoi. |
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Vietnam and South Korea deepen ties in industry, investment and technology fields
Vietnam and South Korea plan to deepen and expand cooperation, focusing on three main pillars: industry, investment, and science and technology. |
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SK Group promotes AI ecosystem development in Vietnam
SK Group signed an agreement to cooperate with Vietnam in building Vietnam’s AI industry ecosystem and developing core AI infrastructure. |
