Apple CEO Tim Cook has recently announced a plan to build a database center in Viet Nam in an effort to reduce reliance on third partners like Amazon and Microsoft.

Vietnamese PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) shakes hands with Apple CEO Tim Cook, January 23, 2019 - Photo: VNA

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The announcement was made on January 23 while the CEO met with Vietnamese PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc who is present in Davos, Switzerland for the ongoing World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2019.

PM Phuc congratulated the group on its successful investment and business operation in Viet Nam. He also voiced his backing for the plan on database center establishment.

Three years ago, domestic and international press reported about a US$ 1 billion database center of Apple in Viet Nam. Accordingly, Apple had two options of Ha Noi or Da Nang. 

The establishment of the database center is part of the group’s bid to reduce its reliance on third partners namely Amazon and Microsoft. 

This will be the second project of Apple in Viet Nam. Earlier, in October 2015, Apple invested US$ 673,000 to set a company named Apple Vietnam LLC in HCMC. 

Apple was said to be relatively slower than its peers including Samsung and LG (from the RoK) and Microsoft (the U.S.). 

Samsung invested over US$ 11.2 billion in Thai Nguyen and Bac Ninh provinces in Viet Nam. The group is building a research and development center in Viet Nam. 

Meanwhile, LG LG Electronics poured US$ 1.5 billion in Hai Phong. Microsoft moved its mobile production from China, Hungary, and Mexico to Bac Ninh province in 2014. 

Experts assessed that Viet Nam has emerged as a key market of Apply in the context that large markets including China, the U.S., and India showed signs of saturation and weak purchasing power. 

In spite of higher costs in comparison with average incomes and spending budgets of customers, Apple phone sales in Viet Nam are impressive. 

Counterpoint Research reported that between Q2, 2017 and Q2, 2018, Apply owned over 5% of Viet Nam’s smart phone market. 

Apple Tim Cook also forecast that the group will earn its record revenue in Viet Nam. Accordingly, the group expects to earn high revenues in key markets including the U.S, Cana, Mexico, Europe (Germany and Italy), Asia Pacific region (the RoK and Viet Nam).

VGP