Vietnam Government Information Portal reported that on October 27, Standing Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Tuc met Iris Cui, Apple's vice president for Asia-Pacific supply chain operations.
At the meeting, the vice premier praised Apple and its partners for creating jobs, improving workers' skills and production standards, and connecting Vietnam with global industrial value chains.
He asked Apple to raise Vietnam's position in its global production strategy and supply chain. He said cooperation should be measured by the capabilities of Vietnamese companies, the development of engineering talent and the technology value created in Vietnam, as well as by factory numbers and production scale.
The vice premier asked Apple to clarify its plans for developing its supply chain in Vietnam in the coming years, including product groups, components and production stages that could be expanded. He pointed to automation, quality management, process design and supply-chain management.
Apple was asked to study a local supplier development program with specific goals and a roadmap, covering components, materials, molds, supporting equipment, logistics, engineering and digital management.
Apple was also asked to support Vietnamese companies able to meet international standards for quality, safety, traceability, production management and sustainable development. They could eventually become direct suppliers, including in markets outside Vietnam.
The vice premier asked Apple to expand workforce training, from production-line operations to building teams of engineers and specialists in smart manufacturing, robotics, automation, software, data and artificial intelligence.
Apple was asked to study internship and rotational training programs and cooperate with universities, research institutes and technology companies so training would match practical needs.
Iris Cui expressed appreciation for the favorable conditions Vietnam had created for Apple and its manufacturing partners.
She said improvements to Vietnam's infrastructure had supported Apple's suppliers. She also praised ministries and agencies for completing regulations that make it easier for companies to start production.
Cui noted the simplified work-permit process, which made it easier for partners to bring foreign specialists to Vietnam. She also acknowledged support for local engineers and technical workers.
The Apple representative said the company was running new-technology training programs for workers in Vietnam's supply chain and viewed the growth of the local app-developer community positively.
Cui asked Vietnam to continue improving investment support for high-tech projects, address contractor tax and customs procedures, and complete a mechanism for direct power purchase agreements to support suppliers' transition to greener operations.
The vice premier asked the Ministry of Industry and Trade to study the direct power-purchase proposal while balancing the interests of all sides and taking account of the power system's operating conditions.
On investment incentives, tax and customs policy, the Ministry of Finance should guide companies in applying current regulations and resolve matters within its authority.
The vice premier said Vietnam would continue improving institutions, infrastructure, human resources and the investment and business environment so Apple and other high-tech companies could develop in the country over the long term and sustainably.
Sources: Dân Trí
