Intel plans to continue expanding investment in Vietnam while supporting workforce training and the development of the country’s semiconductor ecosystem, a delegation of the American semiconductor giant said to Vietnam’s Ministry of Science and Technology.

The commitment was made during talks between Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Bui Hoang Phuong and Sarah E. Kemp, Intel Vice President for Government Affairs, Policy and Trade, the ministry reported Friday.

For his part, Phuong praised Intel’s contributions to Vietnam’s electronics and semiconductor sectors and reaffirmed that the ministry would continue facilitating Intel and suppliers to increase high-tech investment in the country.

The deputy minister proposed five areas of cooperation with Intel: expanding investment, research and manufacturing activities in Vietnam; consulting for the Vietnam National Multi-Project Wafer Coordination Center; cooperating on the construction of Vietnam’s semiconductor fabrication plant; developing a semiconductor workforce; and supporting the growth of Vietnam’s semiconductor ecosystem.

Vietnam’s semiconductor sector has so far recorded foreign direct investment (FDI) of $14.2 billion across 241 projects and aims to further attract major global technology companies to invest in the country.

So far, Intel has invested about $1.5 billion in Vietnam. Saigon Hi-Tech Park (SHTP) in Ho Chi Minh City, the location of Intel factory in Vietnam, has recently reported that Intel is shifting its semiconductor chip production lines from Costa Rica to SHTP.

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