Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính meets President for Cisco Asia Pacific, Japan, and Greater China (APJC) Dave West on Wednesday. — VNA/VNS Photos Dương Giang

TIANJIN — Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính on Wednesday met with leaders of major global technology corporations and an investment fund to strengthen cooperation in science, technology, and innovation.

The meetings took place on the sidelines of the 16th Annual Meeting of the New Champions of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Tianjin City, China.

Talking to the Vietnamese leader, President for Cisco Asia Pacific, Japan, and Greater China (APJC) Dave West introduced Cisco as one of the world’s leading technology corporations, renowned for its pioneering role in networking equipment and information technology solutions, particularly in routing, switching, cybersecurity, cloud computing, and unified communications.

He highlighted that Cisco began manufacturing equipment in Việt Nam in 2022, and the country now accounts for approximately 30 per cent of the group’s global production. Additionally, Cisco has contributed to Việt Nam’s tech workforce by supporting the training of some 100,000 professionals.

Commending Việt Nam’s vision for developing science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation, West expressed Cisco’s interest in further engaging in this process, particularly in advancing technology infrastructure and training human resources, including semiconductor and artificial intelligence (AI) manpower, in deploying AI development and application models, as well as in ensuring cybersecurity.

During the meeting, PM Chính praised Cisco’s productive operations worldwide and in Việt Nam. He welcomed the group’s intention to expand cooperation with Việt Nam in innovation, the application of cutting-edge technologies, and digital transformation.

Việt Nam considers science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation as key drivers for economic restructuring and establishing a new growth model, with the goal of becoming a high-income and developed country by 2045, he noted.

The PM called on Cisco to expand its investment partnerships in Việt Nam, and to serve as a bridge to attract other US businesses and Cisco partners to invest in the country. He proposed that Cisco work with Vietnamese ministries, agencies, and enterprises including the Ministry of Science and Technology, Viettel, and CMC to carry out specific cooperation programmes and projects.

The Government leader also extended an invitation to Cisco executives to visit Việt Nam at the earliest opportunity to discuss the establishment of a research and training centre focused on semiconductor, AI, network governance, cybersecurity, and digital transformation.

In addition, he asked Cisco to support Việt Nam in training 100,000 semiconductor and AI professionals over the next five years, and to share resources to help the country implement its “Digital Literacy for All” campaign.

Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính meets Yinglan Tan, Founding Managing Partner of Insignia Ventures Partners.

On the same day, PM Chính received Yinglan Tan, Founding Managing Partner of Insignia Ventures Partners.

Tan noted that Insignia Ventures Partners is a Singapore-based venture capital firm established in 2017 and specialising in technology investments. In Việt Nam, it is running an office in HCM City and has invested in many Vietnamese tech startups such as Logivan, Edmicro, Waves, Finhay, and Propzy.

He showed the fund’s intention to further engage in fostering Việt Nam’s startup and innovation movement, with a focus on youth-led initiatives and the development of technology human resources.

PM Chính praised Insignia Ventures Partners for its achievements and expressed his appreciation for its contributions to boosting Việt Nam’s startups and innovative firms.

Sharing Việt Nam’s wish to strengthen collaboration between tech firms and investment funds to advance human resources development in the IT sector and promote the innovation and startup ecosystem in the country.

He further informed that the Vietnamese Government had recently approved a list of strategic technologies and products spanning 11 priority sectors, including AI, cloud computing, quantum computing, data, and blockchain, along with new technologies for the exploitation of underground space, marine space, and universe space.

He suggested Insignia Ventures Partners to explore investment opportunities in these fields to benefit from preferential policies, and participate in the international financial centre Việt Nam is building.

The PM also urged the firm to accelerate efforts to launch an investment fund exclusively designed for Việt Nam and additional investment cooperation mechanisms to support the growth of local startups and innovation ecosystem.

He encouraged it to link its global portfolio companies to expand R&D, business, and production operations in Việt Nam, making use of the country's high-tech incentives and contributing to the local tech ecosystem.

Additionally, he suggested the firm share experience with and advise the Vietnamese Government on groundbreaking policies and mechanisms to better support enterprises and startups.

Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính and Brand Cheng, Chairman and CEO of Foxconn Industrial Internet in Tianjin on Wednesday.

At another meeting, Brand Cheng, Chairman and CEO of Foxconn Industrial Internet (FII), introduced the company’s scale and strengths, especially in providing smart manufacturing solutions and industrial digital services.

He expressed the firm’s willingness to cooperate with Việt Nam in training a tech-savvy workforce and expanding collaboration in AI data centres, green manufacturing, and sustainable development. He also hoped Việt Nam will prioritise high-tech certification for companies under the Foxconn Group.

Praising FII’s successful investments in Việt Nam and its future cooperation plans, the Vietnamese leader called on the company to further research and broaden its investments in the country. He encouraged FII to leverage its investment network to promote research, development, and manufacturing activities in Việt Nam, contributing to the growth of the local tech ecosystem.

The PM also suggested that Foxconn transfer technology and establish semiconductor production facilities in Việt Nam.

He affirmed that Việt Nam will continue creating favourable conditions for foreign investors, including FII, to invest effectively in Việt Nam, and hoped the company would share its experiences, contributing to building a technology ecosystem and promoting national digital transformation in Việt Nam. — VNA/VNS