SK expands AI ecosystem partnership in Vietnam

Apr 24, 2026, 12:21 pm

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Chey Tae-won, Chairman of SK Group, attends the Korea-Vietnam Business Forum. / SK

SK Group is moving to build an artificial intelligence ecosystem in Vietnam, marking the first overseas rollout of Chairman Chey Tae-won’s “AI full-stack provider” strategy.

The group announced that it signed memorandums of understanding (MOUs) on April 23 in Hanoi with the Nghe An provincial government and the National Innovation Center (NIC) to jointly develop AI infrastructure and foster the country’s AI ecosystem.

Under the agreement with Nghe An, SK Innovation and SK Telecom will explore building AI data centers and related infrastructure in the region, a fast-growing hub in north-central Vietnam.

SK Innovation plans to link the initiative with the Quynh Lap LNG power project, a large-scale energy infrastructure development that includes a 1,500MW gas-fired power plant, LNG terminal, and dedicated port. The integration aims to secure stable power supply for data centers while creating a high-value industrial ecosystem.

SK Telecom will review development, construction, and operation plans for AI data centers while also seeking global demand. The Nghe An government will support licensing, administrative procedures, and incentives to facilitate the project.

Separately, SK Innovation and SK Telecom signed another MOU with NIC to promote broader cooperation in building Vietnam’s AI ecosystem. Established in 2019, NIC serves as a national hub for advanced technology industries, including AI and semiconductors.

The partnership will cover areas such as AI data center construction, energy infrastructure development, and policy and institutional support for AI industry growth. SK Innovation will provide energy solutions, while SK Telecom will lead technology collaboration and investment attraction. NIC will assist with regulatory coordination and partner development.

The Vietnam initiative is seen as the first overseas implementation of SK’s AI full-stack provider strategy, which integrates capabilities across semiconductors, data centers, energy, and AI services to deliver efficient AI infrastructure solutions.

SK is already advancing similar efforts in Korea, including a 100MW hyperscale AI data center in Ulsan targeted for completion in 2027 in collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS). The group is also in discussions with OpenAI on AI data center development.

Chey said, “AI will play a key role in Vietnam’s sustainable growth. SK has capabilities across the entire AI ecosystem—from energy and semiconductors to AI models and applications—and we aim to contribute meaningfully to the development of Vietnam’s AI industry.”

An SK official added that the group has maintained long-standing cooperation with Vietnam across energy, telecommunications, and investment since the 1990s, and expects to deepen its role as a key partner in the country’s national AI strategy.

#SK Group #Chey Tae-won #Vietnam #AI #data center