Exclusive Interview with Mr. Andrew Goh | Corporate Vice President and General Manager, Southeast Asia, Lam Research

Q1: What do you consider the biggest challenges facing the semiconductor industry in Vietnam?

Today in the semiconductor industry, we face four immense challenges: technology complexity, regionalization, workforce development and sustainability. To achieve exponential growth, we will also need better infrastructure with advanced technology and expertise.

Q2: How does your company approach sustainability in semiconductor manufacturing, and what initiatives are currently in place?

At Lam, we take a holistic and proactive approach to managing ESG-related opportunities and risks. Our goal for sustainable operations is to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 through various initiatives which include minimizing our environmental impact through investments in energy, water, waste, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions.

Q3: Talent is one of the most pressing challenges in the semiconductor industry. What actions does your company suggest to address this challenge?

It is crucial for every one of us to play our part in nurturing young talents and advocating for diversity and inclusion to attract people from all sorts of background. We should also explore ways to leverage innovative technologies to train undergraduates and up-skill existing talents.

Q4: Given Vietnam’s growing role in the global semiconductor supply chain, what do you see as the key strengths and opportunities for Vietnam in the semiconductor space?

Vietnam has a skilled talent pool and plans to train 50,000 more semiconductor engineers to address the current shortage. It is an attractive proposition for global companies looking to tap on a highly skilled workforce and grow their presence in the Southeast Asia region. Furthermore, Vietnam already has a stable base of fabless companies and electronic manufacturing with hardware and electronics accounting for 30% of total exports. This is a strong foundation to expand into other semiconductor activities such as design, testing and packaging.

Q5: What did you enjoy most about SEMIExpo Vietnam 2024?

Joining the very first SEMIExpo Vietnam was a great experience. It was wonderful to be able to gain insights from the various industry leaders on the opportunities in Vietnam as well as the Vietnam government’s national strategy for the semiconductor industry.