According to a private source of VietNamNet reporter, in addition to 4 senior leaders of Apple including CEO Tim Cook, Vice President Lisa Jackson, Vice President Iris Cui and Vice President Nick Amman, the delegation of this large technology corporation also had the participation of Ms. Elizabeth Hernandez, Senior Director of Asia of Apple; Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Ha, Director of Apple Vietnam and Ms. Kristin Quayle, Vice President of Global Communications of Apple. On the morning of April 15, Apple CEO Tim Cook and the delegation of senior officials of this global technology company arrived in Vietnam. This is Mr. Tim Cook's first visit to Vietnam. In the information posted on the official website of Apple Vietnam, the company updated Tim Cook's feelings about the country and people of Vietnam : "There is no place like Vietnam, a vibrant and beautiful country. “I’m excited to be here connecting with students, innovators, and customers, and learning more about the diverse ways they use our products to do extraordinary things,” said the Apple CEO. “At Apple, we’re always working to build deeper connections and bring more benefits to the people where we operate. From partnering with local suppliers, to supporting clean water projects and educational opportunities, we’re committed to continuing to strengthen our connections in Vietnam.”

On the morning of April 15, Apple CEO Tim Cook and a delegation of senior officials from the global technology company arrived in Vietnam. Photo source: Apple

Speaking to VietNamNet reporter, Vice President and General Secretary of the Vietnam Internet Association Vu The Binh, a long-time expert in the field of ICT in Vietnam, commented: Mr. Tim Cook's visit this time once again affirms Apple's interest and their commitments to expanding the supply chain in Vietnam. Up to now, Vietnam has also become a large market for Apple, with nearly 42% of the number of smartphones used being iPhones, meaning the estimated number of users is up to more than 28 million. Mr. Vu The Binh also informed that at the meeting between Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and US technology corporations, including Apple, in May 2022, the Prime Minister affirmed that Vietnam is committed to creating an equal and transparent business environment based on market principles, creating maximum conditions for US businesses and investors to operate in Vietnam. At that time, Mr. Tim Cook also made clear that Apple was committed to and wanted to expand its supply chain in Vietnam, cooperating with qualified Vietnamese businesses to participate in Apple's value chain. By 2022, Vietnam had 31 businesses with 160,000 workers working in factories assembling and manufacturing products for Apple. Along with that, the community support projects that Apple announced were also very impressive, such as clean water projects in Hoa Binh. "We believe that this visit by Apple CEO Tim Cook will bring many positive points to Vietnam, both in terms of opportunities for businesses participating in the supply chain, as well as increasing the confidence of foreign investors in the business environment in Vietnam. We also believe that the Vietnamese Government will continue to implement its commitments and policies to attract foreign investment in Vietnam, to promote economic development as well as contribute to increasing the technological value of Vietnamese enterprises," said Mr. Vu The Binh. Also in the information released on the morning of April 15, Apple emphasized its commitment to increase spending on suppliers in Vietnam, along with new progress in the initiative to support clean water for local schools. Since 2019, Apple has spent nearly VND400 trillion through the local supply chain and has more than doubled its annual spending in Vietnam during the same period. Having started operating in Vietnam more than 10 years ago, Apple currently supports more than 200,000 jobs nationwide through direct employment, the supply chain, and the iOS application economy. According to Apple, Vietnam's app economy continues to be a growth driver with the number of jobs nearly tripling since 2017; Vietnam is currently among the top 5 countries in the world in the field of mobile game production. In addition to providing clean water and clean energy to schools or creating opportunities for health management and developing leadership skills for communities in Vietnam, Apple is also supporting students and teachers across the country with STEM education methods. The company's support for STEM education in Vietnam is carried out by providing programming and application development resources in Vietnamese, including Apple's Swift Playgrounds application and the "Everyone Can Code" project. Through this, teachers can guide students in designing and building applications. In addition, in 2023, Apple launched an online apple store in Vietnam. People across the country can shop directly with Apple and experience service from staff who can share their expertise in Vietnamese.

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