(MPI) - Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung, representative of the Government of Vietnam, and Executive Vice President of Worldwide Field Operations, NVIDIA Jay Puri, signed a cooperation agreement on the establishment of an artificial intelligence (AI) research and development centre and an AI data center in Vietnam on December 5, under the witness of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and President and CEO of NVIDIA Jensen Huang.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Founder and CEO of NVIDIA Jensen Huang witnessed the signing of a cooperation agreement between the Government of Vietnam and NVIDIA. Photo: MPI

It is the result of an agreement between NVIDIA and the Vietnamese Government, which was signed during the second visit of Jensen Huang, NVIDIA founder and CEO.

The Vietnam AI Research and Development Center (VRDC) and the AI Data Center will serve as a foundation for NVIDIA and its domestic partners to advance the research, development, and deployment of cutting-edge AI technologies. These centers are expected to play a pivotal role in supporting AI research initiatives, developing AI applications, fostering innovation and entrepreneurship, and creating job opportunities for Vietnam's talent pool.

Vietnam is recognized as one of the countries with great potential for developing and applying AI, thanks to its young, dynamic, and tech-savvy workforce. The Vietnamese Government has identified AI as a priority sector in its national development strategy. The cooperation agreement between Vietnam and NVIDIA promises to drive AI advancements within the country and across the region.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Minister Nguyen Chi Dung stated that the agreement with NVIDIA, a world-leading in AI and semiconductor technology, demonstrates Vietnam’s vision to catch up, move forward, and surpass in the field of AI. AI is considered a breakthrough technology with the potential to drive productivity, enhance economic competitiveness, and contribute to rapid and sustainable economic growth through innovation.

The establishment of NVIDIA’s AI Research and Development Center and Viettel’s AI Data Center, utilizing NVIDIA’s technology, will provide a vital platform for advancing AI research and development in Vietnam. NVIDIA’s assistance in AI will help Vietnam achieve its hi-tech development goals, particularly in AI, while also promoting Southeast Asia as a hub of innovation.

Minister Dung expressed his belief that this partnership would not only enhance Vietnam's capacity for technological research and development, but also lay the foundation for a brighter future for the AI industry in Asia.

Speaking at the event, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasised that the agreement between NVIDIA and the Vietnamese Government, which was signed right after Prime Minister’s visit to NVIDIA in the US in September 2023, marks a significant milestone, reflecting the NVDIA CEO’s strong commitment to transforming Vietnam into is second home. He underscored the principle of “delivering on commitments, ensuring concrete and effective results,” with time, intelligence, and decisiveness being key factors for success.

The Prime Minister called on the two sides to collaborate in AI research and development in order to create a new productive workforce based on Vietnamese AI, in cooperation with NVIDIA.

The Vietnamese Government is committed to providing the most favorable conditions for the effective implementation of the collaboration, ensuring mutual benefits based on the principles of “harmonized interests and shared risks”, “listening and understanding together, sharing visions and actions, succeeding and thriving together, and celebrating shared happiness and pride”, he stressed.

NVIDIA founder and CEO Jensen Huang praised Vietnam’s robust resources, highlighting education as the foundation of Vietnam's AI future. He stated that the ongoing efforts are building a strong AI future for Vietnam, describing AI as an extraordinary opportunity for the country.

Vietnam's encouragement and strong support for AI will significantly boost the development of an AI ecosystem for both Vietnam and NVIDIA. He reassured NVIDIA’s commitment to being a partner and reliable friend of Vietnam at every step on its AI journey./.

Bao Linh

Ministry of Planning and Investment