SBI Holdings, a Japanese financial services firm, is actively considering Vietnam as an appealing investment destination for semiconductor manufacturing. SBI, a significant player in the Japanese business landscape with interests spanning new technologies like semiconductors, services, and biotechnology, is exploring the possibility of establishing semiconductor factories in various locations, including Japan, the Middle East, and Vietnam. The CEO, Yoshitaka Kitao, shared this information during a meeting with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh in Tokyo on a Saturday morning.

Kitao expressed the company’s interest in collaborating with prominent Vietnamese information technology firms, such as FPT, to create a comprehensive ecosystem for semiconductor manufacturing.

Notably, Renesas Electronics, a Japanese semiconductor manufacturer, has already invested in a research and development facility in Vietnam, employing 1,500 Vietnamese workers, of which 60% are software engineers. Vietnam holds a prominent position in Renesas’ foreign investment strategy, according to a spokesperson for the company.

During the meeting, Kazuhiro Doh from another Japanese semiconductor maker, TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED, inquired about Vietnam’s policies regarding human resource development to meet the demands of the precision manufacturing sector.

Vietnam stands out as a secure haven amidst the global uncertainties, thanks to its political and security stability. Japan remains one of Vietnam’s key economic partners, leading in official development assistance, ranking second in hosting Vietnamese guest workers, third in investment and tourism, and fourth in trade.