At the Vietnam Semiconductor Industry Expo 2025, experts, and business leaders discussed how the country can capture new opportunities in the global semiconductor supply chain amid rising demand and worldwide restructuring.

Speaking at a session on unlocking opportunities for Vietnam's local supply chain on November 7, Kees van Baar, Ambassador of the Netherlands to Vietnam, said the Netherlands sees major potential for cooperation.

“About 90 per cent of the value of a chip-making machine made in the Netherlands is created not by the manufacturers themselves, but by their suppliers,” he noted. “These suppliers span multiple tiers and fields, from metal processing, mechanics, and optics to engineering services. Understanding this opens a whole new world of opportunities for Vietnam.”

The Netherlands is among the world's semiconductor leaders, with 85 per cent of integrated circuits in electronic devices globally made on machines designed and produced there. Ambassador van Baar said this strength is built on high-precision engineering, strong research and development (R&D) investment, and an open ecosystem of skilled suppliers, a model that Vietnam can adapt as it develops its own semiconductor ecosystem.

“The growing capabilities of Vietnamese businesses give them an advantage in becoming suppliers to global semiconductor companies,” he added, encouraging local firms to connect directly with international buyers at the expo's networking session.

Vietnam's push into semiconductors reflects a broader ambition to shift its growth model towards innovation, technology, and sustainability. “This forum comes at a pivotal time as Vietnam accelerates its efforts to shift its growth model, with science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation as key enablers,” said Vu Quoc Huy, director of the National Innovation Centre (NIC) under the Ministry of Finance.

“These are not only priorities but also critical to boosting competitiveness and ensuring sustainable development,” he added.

The NIC leads Vietnam's semiconductor human resource development programme, which aims to train 50,000 engineers by 2030. The centre works closely with partners such as SEMI and international corporations to enhance training and research.

A major milestone came in late 2024 when NIC facilitated a partnership between the Vietnamese government and NVIDIA to establish a Vietnam AI and R&D centre and AI data centre, marking a key step in strengthening the country's digital capacity and innovation ecosystem.

“We invite our global partners to continue placing their trust in Vietnam,” said Huy. “Together, we can unlock new growth, nurture the next generation of talent, and build a future where innovation drives shared prosperity.”

Source: VIR