Apple reportedly planning $1B database center and R&D facility in Vietnam
As Apple continues to push digital sales and services into international markets, a report on Friday claims the company is mulling an expansion into Vietnam that would see the creation of a $1 billion database center and R&D facility.
Rendering of Apple's R&D facility in Yokohama, Japan.
Apple's apparent interest in Da Nang province reportedly came up in the minutes of a local government meeting concerning foreign direct investment earlier this week, reports BizLive. Following initial reports, mention of Apple's supposed involvement was expunged from the official record.
According to the local reports, Apple was in March rumored to be weighing the benefits of building a $1 billion Asia-focused database center in Vietnam. The facility might also double as a research and development center, though it is unclear what technologies Apple plans to investigate at the location.
At Apple's Israel R&D center, for example, employees focus on memory and computer chip technology, while an upcoming office in Yokohama, Japan, is said to specialize in the automotive and health industries.
As for Vietnam, Apple last October established a subsidiary, Apple Vietnam LLC, in Ho Chi Minh City under Gene Daniel Levoff, VP of corporate law and director of Apple Operations International. Levoff has been attached to previous international purchases, including last year's assignment of UK music tracking startup Semetric.
Finally, today's report cites a local headhunting firm as saying Apple is looking for an iPhone distribution director and iOS retail director to serve the Vietnam region, sparking hopes that an official retail presence might soon materialize in the country.
Rendering of Apple's R&D facility in Yokohama, Japan.
Apple's apparent interest in Da Nang province reportedly came up in the minutes of a local government meeting concerning foreign direct investment earlier this week, reports BizLive. Following initial reports, mention of Apple's supposed involvement was expunged from the official record.
According to the local reports, Apple was in March rumored to be weighing the benefits of building a $1 billion Asia-focused database center in Vietnam. The facility might also double as a research and development center, though it is unclear what technologies Apple plans to investigate at the location.
At Apple's Israel R&D center, for example, employees focus on memory and computer chip technology, while an upcoming office in Yokohama, Japan, is said to specialize in the automotive and health industries.
As for Vietnam, Apple last October established a subsidiary, Apple Vietnam LLC, in Ho Chi Minh City under Gene Daniel Levoff, VP of corporate law and director of Apple Operations International. Levoff has been attached to previous international purchases, including last year's assignment of UK music tracking startup Semetric.
Finally, today's report cites a local headhunting firm as saying Apple is looking for an iPhone distribution director and iOS retail director to serve the Vietnam region, sparking hopes that an official retail presence might soon materialize in the country.
Comments
Apple could just 'lock' it up and it would be little more than e-waste.
1. Appeases "invest in our country" requirements (see India).
2. Sends a message to China: "You're not the only game in town. We could take our jobs elsewhere."
He is so much into political correctness but he fails to see the disgusting culture that Vietnam has.
Hong Kong would have been perfect. It's a damn shame Britain didn't take out a 999 year lease on Hong Kong instead of a 99 year one. What was Victoria thinking? Oh I remember tea!
As fundamental research is under attack in the US/UK, it's growing in Asian countries. As most people in the US and all politicians are supportive of colleges only because of their football programs, Asian counties/governments are investing in education in substantive areas, while colleges graduate students majoring in Sophistry.
Don't expect jobs to be returning to the US soil unless and until the Asian countries colonize US.
Over the past 15 years, many IT jobs actually have returned to the US, based on two triggers: (a) US firms' disappointment over their loss of control when offshoring some IT and Call Center functions, and (b) the huge amount of innovations and entrepreneurialism stemming from the Internet and Mobile revolutions.
Big companies like Apple, Google, Facebook, AWS, and others are actively hiring in the US. Additionally, newer services like Snapchat, Instagram, and others show that a vibrant pre-IPO industry exists that has a constant need for fresh, educated, and innovative individuals.