Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee and Chairman of its Commission for Policies and Strategies Nguyễn Thanh Nghị (middle) visits Samsung Việt Nam Research and Development Centre on Thursday. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee and Chairman of its Commission for Policies and Strategies Nguyễn Thanh Nghị led a delegation to survey the Samsung Việt Nam Research and Development (R&D) Centre in Hà Nội on Thursday.

The visit aims to serve the drafting of a plan on reforming the national development model based on science-technology, innovation and digital transformation.

Na Ki Hong, General Director of Samsung Việt Nam, said the Samsung R&D Centre was inaugurated in December 2022, coinciding with the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Việt Nam and the Republic of Korea. Built with an investment of US$220 million, it currently employs around 2,500 Vietnamese engineers.

In addition to mobile phone R&D, the centre's operations have expanded to laptops and 4G/5G telecommunications network equipment. It is also cooperating with leading Vietnamese universities and specialised high schools in Hà Nội while providing scholarships for outstanding students.

He said that Samsung Việt Nam posted revenue of $64.9 billion and export turnover of $57.1 billion in 2025, along with cumulative investment exceeding $24 billion. He highly valued the Party’s science and technology policies and reaffirmed Samsung’s commitment to enhancing technological competitiveness, supporting Vietnamese enterprises’ participation in supply chains and developing high-quality technology manpower.

Speaking at the meeting, Nghị said his commission is coordinating with relevant agencies to draft the plan on reforming the national development model based on science-technology, innovation and digital transformation for submission to the Party Central Committee in the near future.

A key focus of the plan, he noted, is considering Việt Nam’s transition toward a development model driven more strongly by knowledge, technology, innovation and high-quality human resources, while strengthening linkages between domestic enterprises and leading global technology corporations to help Việt Nam integrate more deeply into global value chains.

The Party official highlighted Samsung’s important role in Việt Nam’s economy as the country’s largest foreign investor, noting that the Samsung R&D Centre in Hà Nội is the firm’s largest in Southeast Asia.

He said Samsung’s decision to establish a large-scale R&D centre in Hà Nội demonstrates its long-term commitment to Việt Nam and reflects the increasingly substantive and effective economic cooperation between Việt Nam and the Republic of Korea.

Nghị also praised Samsung Việt Nam and its R&D centre for achievements in workforce training, R&D, technology transfer, innovation ecosystem development and job creation, as well as contributions to Việt Nam’s growth, exports and economic restructuring.

Participants expressed their hope that Samsung will continue accompanying the Policy and Strategy Commission and Vietnamese ministries and sectors in advising on policies for sustainable science-technology development, innovation and digital transformation, and in expanding R&D cooperation and high-quality workforce training.

Nghị emphasised that Việt Nam consistently regards the FDI sector as an important component of the economy. Going forward, the country aims to shift from attracting FDI based on quantity to prioritising high-quality investment centred on technology, innovation, added value and spillover effects.

Việt Nam also encourages foreign corporations to expand R&D activities, transfer technology, deepen cooperation with domestic enterprises and support the development of high-quality human resources, he said.

Acknowledging Samsung Việt Nam’s proposals, the chairman said the commission will study and incorporate them into policy recommendations to attract more FDI and further improve the sector's effectiveness.

He proposed that Samsung continue developing a comprehensive ecosystem, expand research into core and leading technologies, strengthen cooperation with Vietnamese universities, research institutes and technology firms, and support Vietnamese enterprises in participating more deeply in Samsung’s supply chain and technology ecosystem.

He also called on Samsung to keep coordinating in training Vietnamese engineers and experts in AI and semiconductor technologies.

Nghị expressed confidence that together with the development of Việt Nam and the two countries' Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, Samsung will remain a long-term strategic partner in Việt Nam’s technology and innovation ecosystem.

Later the same day, the delegation toured the Samsung Việt Nam R&D Centre, met Vietnamese engineers working there and visited the centre’s training facilities and product experience area. — VNA/VNS