On May 24, 2025, the Vietnam Trade Office in Singapore, in collaboration with the Singapore Semiconductor Industry Association (SSIA), jointly organized an investment promotion conference on industrial, trade, and service cooperation.
The event aimed to attract semiconductor industry investment, facilitate trade promotion, and strengthen business linkages between Singapore and Vietnam. It was held in a hybrid format (in-person and online) to showcase Vietnam’s potential, advantages, and semiconductor development strategy for the coming years.
Strong Participation from Global Semiconductor Enterprises
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The conference drew more than 200 participants, including representatives from major semiconductor corporations such as Marvell and Qualcomm, reflecting strong international interest in Vietnam’s growing semiconductor ecosystem.
In his opening speech, Vietnamese Ambassador to Singapore Trần Phước Anh emphasized that the semiconductor sector has been identified by the Vietnamese Government as a key pillar of the national economy.
In 2024, the Prime Minister approved the “Vietnam Semiconductor Industry Development Strategy to 2030, Vision to 2050”, which outlines three implementation phases.
During Phase 1 (2024–2030), Vietnam aims to become a global center for semiconductor human resources and establish foundational capabilities in research, design, manufacturing, packaging, and testing. The industry’s annual revenue is projected to exceed USD 25 billion, with an added value ratio of 10–15%.
Singapore and Vietnam: Strategic Partners in Semiconductor Development
Ambassador Trần Phước Anh noted that Singapore has extensive experience and technological advancement in electronics and semiconductors, and that both countries have significant potential for collaboration.
He expressed hope that the conference would enable businesses from both sides to better understand each other, paving the way for effective partnership programs aligned with their respective capacities and goals.
Mr. Ang Wee Seng, Executive Director of SSIA, highlighted that Singapore’s semiconductor ecosystem accounts for nearly 12% of the global market and contributes about 8% of the nation’s GDP.
He stressed that cross-border collaboration is key to unlocking the next wave of growth, adding that Vietnam’s semiconductor market, valued at over USD 18 billion in 2024, is expected to surpass USD 31 billion by 2029.
According to him, Vietnam is rapidly emerging as a vital hub for innovation, manufacturing, and semiconductor investment, driven by strong government commitments, an improving business environment, and the country’s strategic position in regional supply chains.
Vietnam is drawing attention across the entire semiconductor value chain — from design to assembly, testing, and packaging — and is seeing booming demand for chips from its automotive (especially EVs), consumer electronics, and telecommunications industries.
R&D and Workforce Development: Key Growth Drivers
SSIA representatives noted that electronics and semiconductors have become a cornerstone of industrial development policies worldwide — integrated into national research programs in energy, biotechnology, healthcare, robotics, and AI infrastructure.
Governments, including Singapore’s, are focusing on:
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Education and training programs to develop skilled semiconductor engineers.
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Public–private R&D collaboration with major financial and industrial partners.
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Technology centers and innovation hubs to promote startups and industrial diversification.
Mr. Ang Wee Seng emphasized that developing a skilled and visionary workforce is critical to sustaining innovation and competitiveness in this fast-evolving sector.
Vietnam’s Strategic Roadmap and Next Steps
Mr. Cao Xuân Thắng, Commercial Counselor of Vietnam in Singapore, along with participating enterprises, proposed several key action points for Vietnam’s semiconductor industry development:
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Train high-quality semiconductor engineers and develop expertise in AI-integrated chip design.
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Strengthen the domestic supply chain by partnering with material, component, and equipment suppliers.
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Enhance international cooperation to attract major global semiconductor investors and promote technology transfer.
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Invest in advanced technological infrastructure to meet strategic development goals.
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Build strong domestic brands and develop Vietnam’s internal semiconductor market.
He also announced that the Vietnam Trade Office plans to organize a delegation of Singaporean semiconductor investors and partners to visit Vietnam in the near future to further explore investment opportunities in this high-tech field.
Conclusion
The collaboration between Vietnam and Singapore marks an important step in establishing Vietnam as a regional semiconductor hub, fostering innovation, talent development, and sustainable growth in one of the most critical industries of the 21st century.