Deputy PM welcomes new Intel plant

Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai yesterday praised efforts made by Intel Corporation to build an assembly and testing plant in Viet Nam.

Addressing the plant’s grand opening ceremony, Hai said the venture was clear evidence of effective co-operation, and a matter of pride for Intel as well as the IT community in Viet Nam.

Located on an area of 46,000sq.m in the Sai Gon Hi Tech Park in HCM City’s District 9, the facility, first announced in 2006, is the largest and most advanced in Intel’s global manufacturing network.

Built with an investment of around US$1 billion, the plant began production in mid-2010, starting with chipsets for laptops and mobile devices for Intel customers around the world.

“The opening of the assembly line and test facility in Viet Nam is an important event and supports our goal of accelerating economic transformation led by technology-intensive industries,” said Hai.

He said Intel was also a committed partner of the Government in efforts to modernise the national education system.

Intel would help build a robust information technology sector in the country while fostering local innovation and generating significant hi-tech job opportunities, said Hai.

“The Government of Viet Nam views this as an important project which contributes to the success of the National Strategy of Information Technology Development by 2020,” he added.

“The inauguration of Intel’s new factory in Viet Nam is more meaningful as Viet Nam and the US celebrate 15 years of diplomatic relations.”

Intel President and CEO Paul Otellini said: “The Viet Nam assembly and test facility will play a key role in our success by becoming a cornerstone of Intel’s ability to deliver new innovative products to markets around the world.

“Our customers around the world will use products from this factory to build world-changing technology.”

Otellini also spoke highly of agreement that Intel has recently signed with several Government agencies to advance e-government, education, PC and broadband penetration and digital literacy.

Rick Howarth, general manager of Intel Products Viet Nam, said the products that Intel manufactures would serve its global customer base and have significant impact on Viet Nam’s export revenues.

“Intel in Viet Nam will create thousands of new hi-tech jobs and will have a multiple effect in the country, drawing in supplier companies that also create job growth for Viet Nam,” he said.

Le Hoang Quan, chairman of the HCM City People’s Committee, said despite the impacts of the global financial crisis and economic recession that forced Intel to close some of its facilities in other countries, it had pursued the implementation of its project in Viet Nam.

Quan also asked Intel to help HCM City develop support industries at the Sai Gon Hi-tech Park so as to increase localisation of its chip production. — VNS

Tags: Intel plant, Intel Vietnam