Vietnam Aims to Build a Computer Chip Factory

Vietnam Aims to Build a Computer Chip Factory

越南旨在建立一个电脑芯片工厂

【原文听力】

　　By Gregory Stachel

　　31 October 2023

　　Vietnam is holding talks with companies that manufacture semiconductors for the electronics industry to increase investment in the country.

　　Two business officials, who did not want to be identified, spoke to Reuters news agency. They said Vietnam aims to build its first factory for computer chips. U.S. industry officials, however, have warned about the high costs.

　　The Southeast Asian country is already a center for electronics. U.S. technology company Intel says it has its largest semiconductor packaging and testing plant in Vietnam. The country is home to several chip designing software companies.

　　Vietnam is working on a plan to bring in more semiconductor investment, including foundries. Foundries mainly manufacture computer chips.

　　Vu Tu Thanh is head of the Vietnam office of the US-ASEAN Business Council. He told Reuters that meetings with six U.S. chip companies took place in recent weeks, including with factory operators. He did not identify the companies because talks were ongoing.

　　Another official, who did not want to be identified because he was not permitted to talk with the media, spoke with Reuters. The official said talks with possible investors have involved U.S. company GlobalFoundries and Taiwanese company PSMC.

　　The individual said the aim was to build Vietnam's first chip manufacturing plant, most likely for less complex chips used in cars or for telecommunications uses.

　　The business meetings followed an improvement in diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the U.S. in September. At that time, U.S. President Joe Biden visited Vietnam's capital, Hanoi. Biden's administration described Vietnam as a possible "critical player" in world semiconductor supply chains.

　　GlobalFoundries joined a restricted business meeting during Biden's visit after an invitation from the president, the company said. However, a person with knowledge of the subject said the company has not made immediate plans to invest in Vietnam.

　　"We do not comment on market rumors," a GlobalFoundries spokesperson said. PSMC did not answer a request for comment.

　　Industry officials said meetings so far were mostly to test interest and discuss possible government financial support. Such support would seek to persuade the companies with reasons why it would be good to build a plant there, or incentives. They include power supplies, infrastructure, and the availability of a trained workforce.

　　The Vietnamese government has said it wants its first fabrication plant by about 2030. On Monday, the government said chip companies would gain from "the highest incentives available in Vietnam."

　　Hung Nguyen is a program leader on supply chains at Hanoi's University Vietnam. He told Reuters that Vietnam might also support local companies such as state-owned tech company Viettel to build chip factories with imported equipment.

　　Viettel did not answer a request for comment.

　　$50 billion decision

　　Robert Li is Vice President of U.S. Synopsys, a leading chip design firm with operations in Vietnam. He urged the government to "think twice" before giving out financial support, or subsidies, to build chip factories.

　　Speaking at Vietnam Semiconductor Summit in Hanoi on Sunday, he said building a foundry could cost as much as $50 billion. He said it would mean providing subsidies competitive with China, the U.S., South Korea and the European Union. Each has announced spending plans for chip factories valued at between $50 and $150 billion.

　　John Neuffer is President of the U.S. Semiconductor Industry Association. At the same meeting, he suggested the government center its attention on chip manufacturing in which Vietnam is already strong, like assembling, packaging and testing.

　　I'm Caty Weaver.

　　Reuters reported this story. Gregory Stachel adapted the story for VOA Learning English.

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　　作者:格雷戈里·斯塔切尔

　　2023年10月31日

　　越南正在与制造半导体为电子行业增加国家投资。

　　两名不愿透露姓名的商业官员接受了路透社的采访。他们表示，越南的目标是为2010年建造第一家工厂计算机 炸薯条。然而，美国工业官员对高昂的成本提出了警告。

　　这个东南亚国家已经是一个电子中心。美国科技公司英特尔称其拥有最大的半导体包装和越南的测试工厂。这个国家有几家芯片设计软件公司。

　　越南正在制定一项计划，引进更多的半导体投资，包括代工厂。代工厂主要生产计算机芯片。

　　Vu Tu Thanh是美国-东盟商务委员会越南办公室主任。他告诉路透社，最近几周与六家美国芯片公司举行了会议，其中包括工厂运营商。由于谈判仍在进行，他没有透露具体是哪家公司。

　　另一位不愿透露姓名的官员接受了路透社的采访，因为他不被允许与媒体交谈。这位官员说，与潜在投资者的谈判涉及美国公司GlobalFoundries和台湾公司PSMC。

　　该人士表示，目标是建立越南第一家芯片制造厂，很可能是生产用于汽车或电信用途的不太复杂的芯片。

　　这些商业会议是在9月份越南和美国外交关系改善之后举行的。当时，美国总统乔·拜登访问了越南首都河内。拜登政府将越南描述为一个可能的“批评的世界半导体的“玩家”供应链.

　　该公司表示，在拜登访问期间，应总统邀请，GlobalFoundries参加了一个限制性商业会议。不过，一位知情人士表示，该公司目前没有在越南投资的计划。

　　“我们不对市场发表评论谣言GlobalFoundries发言人说。PSMC没有回应置评请求。

　　行业官员表示，到目前为止，会议主要是为了测试兴趣和讨论可能的政府财政支持。这种支持将试图说服这些公司在那里建厂的理由或激励措施。它们包括电源，基础设施，以及训练有素的劳动力的可用性。

　　越南政府表示，希望在2030年左右建成第一家制造厂。周一，政府表示，芯片公司将从“越南现有的最高激励措施”中受益

　　Hung Nguyen是河内越南大学供应链项目负责人。他告诉路透社，越南还可能支持国有科技公司Viettel等本土公司用进口设备建造芯片工厂。

　　Viettel没有回应置评请求。

　　500亿美元的决定

　　Robert Li是美国领先芯片设计公司Synopsys的副总裁，该公司在越南开展业务。他敦促政府在给予财政支持或补贴以建设芯片工厂之前“三思而后行”。

　　周日在河内举行的越南半导体峰会上，他表示建造一座代工厂可能需要高达500亿美元。他说，这将意味着提供与中国、美国、韩国和欧盟竞争的补贴。双方都宣布了价值500-1500亿美元的芯片工厂投资计划。

　　约翰·纽弗是美国半导体工业协会的主席。在同一次会议上，他建议政府把注意力集中在芯片制造上，越南在这方面已经很强，比如装配、封装和测试。

　　我是凯蒂·韦弗。

　　路透社报道了这个故事。Gregory Stachel为VOA英语学习改编了这个故事。

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　　这个故事中的词语

　　semiconductor – n. 允许一些电或热通过的材料或物体，尤其用于电子设备

　　computer chip –n. 一种小型扁平半导体材料，上面有不同复杂程度的电气连接

　　package –v. 准备好某物以便出售或提供给公众

　　critical – adj. 极其重要

　　supply chain – n.为人们提供产品和商品所需的材料和零件的企业网络

　　rumor – n. 从一个人传到另一个人的信息或故事，但尚未被证明是真实的

　　infrastructure – n.一个国家、地区或组织正常运转所需的基本设备和结构(如道路和桥梁)

　　assemble –v. 以更完整的形式组合某物

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