Intel Builds First Made-in-Vietnam CPU

Intel was one of the first high tech companies to build a factory and factory for lease in Vietnam. In 2006, the company opened its factory (workshop for lease) in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) with a total registered capital of US$300 million. After a year, Intel increased its investment in Vietnam to US$1 billion. 

In 2010, the HCMC factory began assembling and testing semiconductor components. In late 2013, it launched Atom SoC (system on a Chip). The total 2013 export revenue for Intel in Vietnam was US$2 billion.

According to the CEO of Intel Products Vietnam, Sherry Boger, by investing in Vietnam, Intel is getting on the right track to increase its worldwide production capability. Ms. Boger has also highly praised Vietnamese employees for their abilities, as evidenced by the high quality of the made-in-Vietnam chips, which always meet customer expectations.

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However, currently, the localization rate of Intel’s Vietnamese plant is not very high since only a few local enterprises have been able to qualify to become its equipment and parts suppliers.

The Vietnamese government hopes that it can raise the localization rate at Intel’s factories and at other foreign-run factories. In order to achieve this, the government is running a number of programs intended to develop the country’s support industries. Intel has been watching these activities with much interest and has expressed its positive view about the future of its production activities in Vietnam.

In 2010, only three Vietnamese firms were able to supply parts to the Intel plant, but by 2014 this number had increased to 16. Intel has indicated that, if Vietnamese suppliers can meet the company’s high technology standards, they will be willing to use more local suppliers. Using local suppliers would allow the company to improve its supply chain and save an appreciable amount of time and money. Intel has announced the goal of reaching an 80 percent localization rate in Vietnam.

The recent announcement of the production of Intel’s first made-in-Vietnam CPU has further reinforced the notion that Vietnam, and HCMC in particular, are key investment destinations for high tech companies.

In order to continue building its attractiveness, HCMC has repeatedly promised to provide foreign investors with the best possible conditions and opportunities to establish and grow their business in Vietnam.