Vietnamese leader urges Boeing to build production facility in Vietnam

General Secretary and President To Lam called on Boeing to quickly study and initiate plans for establishing a component manufacturing facility and a maintenance center in Vietnam.

Party Chief and State President To Lam and President of Boeing Global Brendan Nelson. Source: VNA

The comments were made during a meeting with the President of Boeing Global Brendan Nelson on September 22 in New York.

During the discussion, General Secretary and President To Lam urged Boeing to quickly explore and implement investments in component manufacturing plants and establish a regional-scale aircraft maintenance center connected to major airports in Vietnam.

“Vietnam is committed to providing all necessary conditions, in line with regulations, to ensure that US investors, including Boeing, can operate efficiently and sustainably in the country,” said To Lam.

He also acknowledged Boeing's commitment to supporting Vietnam in developing its aviation and aerospace industrial ecosystem in the coming years.

Vietnam encourages Boeing to expand cooperation, support workforce training, collaborate on research and development (R&D), transfer technology, and involve Vietnamese partners more deeply in Boeing’s supply chain, he noted.

Vietnam is making significant investments in aviation infrastructure, notably the 5,000-hectare Long Thanh International Airport project in Dong Nai province and the expansion of Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City.

Long Thanh is planned to be a 4F airport, with the aim of becoming one of the region's major aviation hubs. The total investment is estimated at approximately $16.06 billion. Tan Son Nhat Airport is being expanded with the construction of a new terminal (T3) at a cost of around $450 million, funded by the Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV). Additionally, General Secretary and President To Lam also requested that Boeing continue to work closely with Vietnamese partners to ensure the delivery of previously signed aircraft orders.

Brendan Nelson confirmed that Boeing has held several discussions with the leadership of Vietnam Airlines to provide financial support and address challenges. Both sides are committed to completing the signed contract by 2028, following President Joe Biden's visit to Vietnam last year. Nelson praised Vietnam's leadership for its vision in recognizing the critical role of aviation in socio-economic development and expressed confidence that the growth of the aviation sector will create new opportunities for the country and its people.

Boeing’s executive stressed the corporation’s commitment to continue to support the development of Vietnam's aviation ecosystem, focusing on aviation infrastructure, human resources training, airport construction, and aircraft maintenance facilities.

Boeing is the world’s largest aerospace company and a leading manufacturer of commercial airplanes, defense systems, space, and security systems. Currently, Boeing employs over 140,000 people in 65 countries, with revenue surpassing $94.5 billion in 2020.