US major corporations – key to promote bilateral ties

THE HANOI TIMES — Major US corporations can relay to the Trump administration that Vietnam, as a Comprehensive Strategic Partner, is creating favorable conditions for US businesses to invest and operate in the country.

Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien shared his views during meetings with leading US corporations such as SpaceX, Google, Excelerate, and Lockheed Martin, on May 20. These meetings took place while Vietnam’s negotiation delegation was in the US for bilateral trade talks with relevant US agencies.

"Cooperating with Vietnam will bring long-term strategic benefits and help improve the trade balance between our two countries in a fair, harmonious, and sustainable way," he said.

Dien also emphasized: “Vietnam should be treated as a priority trade partner of the US.” He called for joint efforts to address existing economic and trade issues, for soon recognition of Vietnam as a market economy, and for Vietnam to be removed from the list of countries subject to export restrictions on high-tech products.

"This will bring tangible benefits to both countries in the short and long term," he noted. The minister also invited SpaceX, Google, Excelerate, and Lockheed Martin to invest more in and cooperate more with Vietnam.

During discussions with Excelerate Energy, Minister Dien expressed Vietnam’s support for the company's involvement in developing the country's LNG infrastructure and market. The company has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with PVGas for long-term LNG supply and floating storage infrastructure.

Peter Haas, Excelerate's Vice President, expressed the company's interest in forming a joint venture with a Vietnamese partner to help the US firm expand its market presence and position Vietnam as a regional LNG hub in ASEAN.

During his meeting with Lockheed Martin representatives, Dien announced that Vietnam is preparing to launch a next-generation satellite by late 2026. He also expressed interest in expanding cooperation with Lockheed Martin in the areas of aerospace, digital infrastructure, national telecommunications capabilities, and participation in the company's supply chain.

Lockheed Martin has previously worked with Vietnam on satellite projects, including VINASAT-1 in 2008 and VINASAT-2 in 2012.

Lockheed Martin Vice President Nancy Ziuzin acknowledged Vietnam’s strategic potential and reaffirmed the company’s dedication to promoting its development in critical sectors, such as aerospace and defense technology. Both parties agreed to strengthen their cooperation, technology transfer, and information sharing.

During the meeting with SpaceX, Dien confirmed Vietnam’s willingness to support the company and resolve any legal issues related to its projects. He encouraged SpaceX to expand its collaborations in IT, clean energy, technology transfer, and, in particular, the training of high-tech human resources.

“This will lay the foundation for sustainable digital infrastructure development in Vietnam,” Dien stated.

SpaceX plans to invest approximately $1.5 billion to roll out its Starlink broadband satellite internet service nationwide, with a focus on remote, border, and island areas. The initial phase will include the construction of 10 to 15 ground stations in Vietnam.

Tim Hughes, Vice President of SpaceX, described Vietnam as a strategic market for Starlink’s global expansion. He affirmed the company’s commitment to investing in infrastructure and providing modern, reliable, and affordable telecommunications services, which will improve connectivity for millions of Vietnamese people, especially those in hard-to-reach areas.

At the meeting with Google, Dien said that now is the time to establish a sustainable, balanced, and secure supply chain in the region. He encouraged Google to collaborate with local stakeholders to evaluate the feasibility of sourcing materials locally and diversifying supply chains within the region.

"The Ministry of Industry and Trade is committed to supporting Google by connecting them with domestic firms, sharing information, and considering policies that support infrastructure, logistics, and taxation if Google decides to expand its investment or increase its supply chain capacity in Vietnam," he affirmed.