Losing 200 billion VND from the microchip factory, Shark Phu received an expensive lesson

Accepting a loss of VND200 billion when investing in a microchip factory, Sunhouse Group Chairman Nguyen Xuan Phu considers this a worthy price to build a complete technology ecosystem, a prerequisite to join the global semiconductor supply chain.

“Sunhouse is currently investing in a microchip factory of about 20 million USD, and last year lost about 200 billion. But I am not sad. I got something else, something bigger,” Mr. Nguyen Xuan Phu (Shark Phu), Chairman of Sunhouse Group, shared frankly when talking about the reality of high-tech investment at the seminar “New chapter of the Semiconductor industry - Opportunities for Vietnam” jointly organized by VINASA and the Semiconductor Industry Development Committee on the afternoon of June 13 in Hanoi .

The loss of 200 billion is not due to a mistake, but is the inevitable price to pay if one wants to enter the global game in the semiconductor field, an industry that, according to Mr. Phu, is fierce, not rosy, and requires truly serious investment.

After a loss of 200 billion, Sunhouse has now exported to the US with a revenue of about 3,000 billion VND. Large corporations that have visited all highly appreciate Sunhouse because it has a complete and synchronized ecosystem. Photo: BTC.

Before investing, he went to Korea three times to survey microchip factories. “Just one testing machine costs 50 billion VND, a factory needs dozens of such machines. The total investment can be up to 200 million USD, but the revenue still cannot cover the cost. Many listed companies in Korea, partners of Samsung and SK Hynix, invested 200 million USD but still lost money after 5 years,” he said.

Sunhouse is not outside of that reality. But what Mr. Phu emphasized was the gain after that 200 billion loss, a closed production chain that meets international standards.

Currently, Sunhouse has exported to the US with a revenue of about 3,000 billion VND. Large corporations that have visited all appreciate us because we have a complete and synchronized ecosystem. Nguyen Xuan Phu, Chairman of SUNHOUSE Group

“Now Sunhouse can manufacture a complete product, for example, I can create an AI Speaker that is completely manufactured from microchips to plastic injection, and even design. Sunhouse can be as proud as Panasonic and Samsung in the early stages. Currently, Sunhouse has exported to the US with a revenue of about 3,000 billion VND. Large corporations that visit highly appreciate us because we have a complete and synchronized ecosystem.”

According to him, this is the condition for Vietnam to enter the global supply chain in the high-tech industry. But to do it, it cannot go it alone. “The semiconductor industry requires three factors at the same time: capital, policy and people. If we only expect private enterprises to operate on their own, it is not enough.”

Mr. Phu believes that Vietnam needs to act now if it does not want to miss the golden opportunity. If it does not act decisively in the next 2-3 years, the supply chain will move to other countries. This is a long journey, not a walk in the park. But if we can do it, we can create a real semiconductor industry for Vietnam.

Chairman of VINASA: 'Semiconductors are like food, AI is the oil and gas of the future' Mr. Truong Gia Binh, Chairman of the Founding Council of VINASA, Chairman of the Semiconductor Industry Development Committee, Chairman of the Board of Directors of FPT Corporation, likened semiconductors to the food of the digital age, and AI to the new strategic energy, like the oil and gas of the future.

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/lo-200-ty-dong-tu-nha-may-vi-mach-shark-phu-nhan-lai-bai-hoc-dat-gia-2411554.html