Samsung struggles with research centre in Hanoi

Samsung Vietnam is seeking approval of Hanoi authorities to relocate its research and development centre to the West Lake area.

The project, which received investment certificate in March 2016 with registered capital of $300 million, was initially reported to be located at The Manor Central Park township along Nguyen Xien street in Hoang Mai district.

Samsung Vietnam general director Choi Joo-ho told Hanoi People’s Committee chairman Nguyen Duc Chung in a recent meeting that the company planned to build an 18-storey tower on an area of 1.1 hectares in the Starlake township.

The centre which can accommodate 3,000 people will research and develop smartphones and internet equipment.

Choi asked Hanoi authorities to create favorable conditions for the centre to be built, which will take two years to complete.

The area where  Samsung plans to build its research centre is being developed by South Korean-backed THT Development Co. Ltd.

The 180-hectare township has managed to attract a number of South Korean investors such as CJ Group and E-Mart to build commercial properties.

Whilst waiting for its official site in Hanoi, Samsung is operating a similar centre at PVI Tower, which is employing more than 2,000 engineers and workers.

Since 2012, the centre has been responsible for researching and developing software for mobile phones and tablet products in Southeast Asia. Among them, there are many projects in which Vietnamese engineers play an important role.

In addition to the centre in Hanoi, Samsung has developed another centre in Ho Chi Minh City, focusing on electronic appliances.

Samsung is currently the biggest foreign investor in Vietnam, operating six factories which earned $60 billion in export revenue last year, or equivalent to 25 per cent of the country’s export turnover.