Oct. 29, 2010 – Intel President and CEO Paul Otellini and representatives of the Vietnamese government, industry and academia gathered today to formally mark the opening of the largest and most advanced assembly and test facility in Intel’s global manufacturing network. The inauguration of the facility marks a major new milestone in Intel’s 13-year history of investing in and partnering with Vietnam.

First announced in 2006, the facility represents an investment commitment of $1 billion and opens up extensive new opportunities for economic development in Vietnam. The facility is the largest assembly and test factory in Intel’s global manufacturing network, with a total area of 46,000 square meters, equal to the size of 5 ½ football fields. Production commenced in the middle of this year, starting with production of chipsets for laptops and mobile devices for Intel customers worldwide.  Once fully operational, the facility is expected to create several thousand skilled jobs in high-tech manufacturing, and generate significant export revenue for the country.

Speaking at the event, Deputy Prime Minster Hoang Trung Hai said, “The opening of the assembly and test facility in Vietnam is an important event and supports our goal of accelerating economic transformation led by technology-intensive industries. Intel is also a committed partner for Vietnam government in modernizing the national education system. Intel helps to build a robust information technology ecosystem while fostering local innovation and creating significant high-tech job opportunities. Vietnam government views this as an important and meaningful project for the success of the National Strategy of Information Technology Development by 2020.”

 “Intel’s global design and manufacturing capability is a critical asset for fueling Intel’s growth,” said Otellini. “The Vietnam 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 in volume. Our customers around the world will use the product from this factory to build world-changing technology.”

Otellini reiterated Intel’s long-term commitment to Vietnam and highlighted the importance of the support Intel has received over the past 4 years from the government, Saigon Hi-tech Park, suppliers and local employees.

 “Assembly and test is a critical final step in the end-to-end manufacturing of Intel’s silicon products,” said Rick Howarth, general manager, Intel Products Vietnam Co., Ltd. “We were attracted to Vietnam by a vibrant, skilled workforce with strong potential to increase the complexity and value-add of their contribution to Intel’s global business.”

In his remarks at today’s event, Otellini also described agreements that Intel recently signed with several Vietnam government agencies to advance e-government, education, PC and broadband penetration and digital literacy. The agreements together represent Intel’s support of the Vietnamese government’s goal of accelerating national growth and competitiveness through technology. 

Intel recently agreed, for example, to support the “PC for Life” program that is enabled by the Ministry of Information and Communications. The program seeks to bridge the digital divide by making connected PCs accessible to more Vietnamese citizens. Intel also is working with the United States Agency for International Development and Arizona State University to grow the skilled engineering workforce necessary to attract and sustain high-tech manufacturing in Vietnam. Intel is also working with the Ministry of Finance on trials of new data center technology. 

“We look forward to making a sustained contribution to Vietnam’s economic growth,” Otellini said. “The ‘smart’ revolution taking place in the computing industry today creates exciting opportunities to pursue together.”