– Apple CEO commits to buying more parts and accessories from Vietnam
CEO Tim Cook said that Apple is committed to buying more components manufactured by partners in Vietnam, and supporting Vietnam in the field of innovation; Increase spending for suppliers in Vietnam…
On the morning of April 16, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh received Mr. Tim Cook, CEO of Apple of the United States – the largest technology company in the world and since 2019 the largest foreign investor in Vietnam (on 16 billion USD).
Notably, the CEO said that Apple is committed to buying more components manufactured by partners in Vietnam, and at the same time supporting Vietnam in the field of innovation; increase payments to suppliers in Vietnam; expand vocational training programs for people with disabilities to promote inclusion, providing greater opportunities for them in the supply chain.
Apple does not have a direct factory in Vietnam, but through more than 70 factories of original equipment manufacturing partners with more than 250,000 employees, specializing in the production of electronic components (such as electrical panels, cameras, screens). pictures…) and complete product assembly for Apple.
Apple Vietnam Co., Ltd. is the official importer of Apple products in Vietnam with over 40 distribution partners in Vietnam and over 5,000 authorized Apple stores. In 2023, Apple opened the Apple Online Store and Apple Pay service with Vietnamese banking partners.
– American businesses massively lay off employees
A series of companies in the US technology, media, finance and retail sectors have sharply cut jobs in 2023. Technology corporations such as IBM, Google, Microsoft, financial corporations such as Goldman Sachs… have all announced layoffs. This situation will continue in 2024.
Google has cut hundreds more jobs this year, after the group’s workforce shrank 6% last year, equivalent to thousands of people.
Microsoft will cut 1,900 workers at Activision, Xbox and ZeniMax. This layoff comes a year after the technology corporation said it would cut its workforce by 10,000 people.
– Global chip manufacturing equipment sales expected to increase 4%
International semiconductor industry group SEMI reported that global chip manufacturing equipment sales are expected to increase 4% in 2024, to $105.3 billion, achieving the first annual increase in two years.
Japanese chipmaking equipment makers like Tokyo Electron are attracting analyst estimates of double-digit profit increases this fiscal year (ending March 31, 2025), mainly weak thanks to rising demand from the artificial intelligence (AI) boom and strong demand from China.
According to the average analyst outlook from QUICK Consensus, Tokyo Electron is on track to post a 33% increase in net profit this fiscal year, to 450.8 billion yen ($2.94 billion). International semiconductor industry group SEMI reported that global chip manufacturing equipment sales are expected to increase 4% in 2024, to $105.3 billion, achieving the first annual increase in two years.
Market observers are optimistic about the prospects for the chip manufacturing equipment industry. Demand from smartphones and personal computers will recover in the second half of the new fiscal year (starting April 1, 2024). Besides, investments in AI and electric vehicles are also increasing rapidly.