SK Group is significantly advancing its efforts to cultivate Vietnam’s artificial intelligence (AI) ecosystem and strengthen its core digital infrastructure. This strategic move marks a substantial step in exporting the group’s comprehensive “AI full-stack” model to international markets.
The group announced Friday the signing of pivotal memorandums of understanding with both Vietnam’s Nghe An provincial government and the National Innovation Center (NIC). These crucial agreements were formalized during the recent Korea-Vietnam Business Forum held in Hanoi, signaling robust AI development partnerships.
These significant agreements were endorsed by high-level officials, including Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan and Vietnam’s Finance Minister Ngo Van Tuan. A distinguished delegation from SK Group attended the event, led by SK Chairman Chey Tae-won, who also chairs the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He was joined by SK Innovation CEO Choo Hyung-wook and SK Telecom CEO Ryu Young-sang, alongside other senior Vietnamese government officials, underscoring the importance of this cross-border collaboration.
This strategic initiative aligns with the outcomes of a recent Korea-Vietnam summit, where both nations committed to deepening their cooperation in vital future growth sectors, including artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and energy. SK Group’s latest agreements are thus viewed as a direct private-sector advancement of this ambitious national agenda.
Through these strategic partnerships, SK Group endeavors to establish itself as a pivotal contributor to Vietnam’s overarching national AI strategy. This comprehensive involvement will encompass critical areas such as AI infrastructure development, sustainable energy supply, and advanced industrial AI applications.
A cornerstone of this ambitious plan involves the prospective development of cutting-edge AI data centers in Nghe An, a rapidly expanding industrial hub strategically located in north-central Vietnam. Both SK Innovation and SK Telecom will collaborate to explore the establishment of robust AI data center infrastructure within this region, ensuring support through reliable and stable power supply solutions.
This significant initiative is poised to integrate with the Quynh Lap Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) power project, for which SK Innovation was recently chosen as a key developer, working in tandem with local partners. This substantial undertaking includes a 1.5-gigawatt gas-fired power plant, an advanced LNG terminal, and a dedicated port. Construction is scheduled to commence in 2027, with targeted completion by 2030, reinforcing Vietnam’s sustainable energy infrastructure.
In this collaborative effort, SK Innovation will focus on providing essential power and sustainable energy solutions for the future AI data center. Meanwhile, SK Telecom will spearhead the development, construction, and operational aspects, while also actively pursuing global demand opportunities for advanced AI services.
The Nghe An provincial government is committed to facilitating this crucial project through streamlined administrative approvals, effective regulatory coordination, and attractive investment incentives, ensuring a conducive environment for its success.
Concurrently, SK Innovation and SK Telecom have also formalized a comprehensive cooperation agreement with Vietnam’s National Innovation Center (NIC). This broader partnership is designed to further bolster the robust development of Vietnam’s burgeoning AI ecosystem.
This strategic collaboration will encompass critical domains such as advanced AI data center construction, robust energy infrastructure development, and vital policy support to accelerate AI industry growth. SK Telecom will contribute its profound technical expertise and actively work to attract essential investment, while SK Innovation will be responsible for delivering sustainable energy solutions. The NIC will play a crucial role in facilitating regulatory support and connecting key local partners, ensuring seamless integration and progress.
Established in 2019, the National Innovation Center (NIC) stands as Vietnam’s premier national innovation hub, spearheading advancements in AI, semiconductors, and startup development. SK Group has maintained a long-standing partnership with the NIC, notably providing a significant $30 million contribution towards its initial establishment, underscoring their commitment to Vietnam’s technological future.
This Vietnam initiative holds profound significance, representing one of the foremost overseas implementations of SK Group’s distinctive “AI full-stack provider” strategy. This comprehensive approach, actively championed by Chairman Chey Tae-won, aims to seamlessly integrate critical components such as semiconductors, advanced data centers, sustainable energy solutions, and cutting-edge AI services into a unified and synergistic ecosystem.
Domestically, SK Group is actively progressing similar transformative projects in Korea, including a state-of-the-art hyperscale AI data center in Ulsan. This facility is being developed in partnership with Amazon Web Services (AWS), with completion targeted for 2027. The group is also exploring potential collaboration with OpenAI to further enhance Korea’s domestic AI infrastructure.
“Artificial intelligence is poised to play an absolutely critical role in fueling Vietnam’s sustained economic and technological growth,” stated Chairman Chey Tae-won during a business roundtable preceding the forum. He emphasized, “SK Group possesses extensive capabilities spanning the entire AI value chain, from robust energy solutions and advanced semiconductors to innovative AI models and practical applications. We are fully committed to making a profoundly meaningful contribution to Vietnam’s AI development journey.”
An SK official reiterated the group’s intention to further solidify its enduring partnership with Vietnam. This expansion builds upon decades of successful cooperation that has spanned vital sectors such as energy, telecommunications, and strategic investment, commencing notably since the 1990s, showcasing a long-term commitment.
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