Apple’s Tim Cook wants to boost Vietnam investment, state media reports

APPLE wants to further boost quality investment and cooperation activities in Vietnam, state-owned media VTV reported, citing chief executive officer Tim Cook in a meeting with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.

Vietnam has seen about a fourfold increase in companies assembling Apple products over the past decade.

The Cupertino, California-based company, in a statement, said the company is increasing its commitments to Vietnam by an unspecified amount. Apple has spent nearly US$16 billion in the country since 2019 through its supply chain partners, the company said.

The prime minister said Vietnam will establish a working group to support Apple, according to VTV. He asked Cook for help in developing a high-quality workforce with training, and support with green development and renewable energy. 

Cook, who landed in the capital city of Hanoi Monday morning, has visited with Vietnamese programmers, content creators and singers during his two-day visit to the nation’s capital of Hanoi, local media reported. 

Cook’s visit comes as more than 60 human rights and environmental organisations called on the Cupertino, California-based company to publicly oppose the detention of climate activists in Vietnam. BLOOMBERG