Abu Dhabi-based technology group G42 has signed a Framework Cooperation Agreement with a Vietnamese consortium comprising FPT Corporation and Viet Thai Group, marking a major step in Vietnam’s push to develop sovereign AI capabilities and national cloud infrastructure.

Signed in Ho Chi Minh City, the agreement formalizes a long-term partnership aimed at supporting Vietnam’s ambition to become an AI-native society and a leading artificial intelligence hub in Southeast Asia, while safeguarding data sovereignty and digital resilience.

The framework sets out the legal, financial, and regulatory foundations required to deploy AI and cloud infrastructure at national scale. The partners also credited the Vietnamese government for advancing regulatory frameworks that enable hyperscale data centres and public cloud adoption, positioning the country as a regional frontrunner in AI infrastructure development.

Backed by consumption commitments of up to $1 billion, the partnership represents a significant milestone in Vietnam’s digital transformation journey. Together, G42 and the consortium bring complementary capabilities critical for nationwide deployment.

FPT Corporation, Vietnam’s largest IT services company with operations in more than 30 countries, contributes deep technical expertise and local market insight. Viet Thai Group, whose portfolio spans coffee, foodservice, retail, and logistics, brings cross-sector experience and strategic scale. G42 adds advanced AI and cloud infrastructure capabilities developed across global markets.

Under the agreement, the partners will deploy significant cloud capacity across three data centre locations in Vietnam, delivering high-performance AI and cloud services to support workloads across both the public and private sectors.

The initiative aligns with G42’s broader vision of building a global “Intelligence Grid” — interconnecting AI infrastructure, cloud platforms, and governance frameworks to enable on-demand AI capabilities while respecting national sovereignty.

Through this foundation, Vietnam is expected to accelerate national AI initiatives, digitize public services, and deploy AI-powered solutions tailored to local economic and social priorities.

“This Framework Agreement represents a new model for national AI transformation — one built on sovereignty, partnership, and purpose,” said Ali Al Amine, Chief Commercial Officer at G42 International. “We are grateful to the Government of Vietnam for its visionary leadership and to our partners for their commitment to building infrastructure that enables Vietnam to harness AI’s full potential while maintaining data sovereignty and digital independence.”

Dr. Truong Gia Binh, Chairman of FPT Corporation, said Vietnam’s strategy is rooted in collaboration. “In areas such as semiconductors, AI, cloud computing, big data, and cybersecurity, we need strategic alliances with partners we can trust. The commitment is clear — now it is time to turn it into real implementation.”

David Thai, Chairman and CEO of Viet Thai Group, said the partnership positions Vietnam at the forefront of AI-driven economic development in Asia. “This collaboration creates the infrastructure foundation for long-term growth and innovation across multiple sectors, supporting economic development and the expansion of the middle class.”

Beyond infrastructure, the partnership also includes plans for national AI skilling and workforce development programs to support adoption across government, industry, and academia.

Following the signing, the partners will move into the execution phase, including finalising public and private sector workloads, securing regulatory approvals for public cloud adoption, and commencing site development for data centre infrastructure.

The initiative is expected to deliver significant economic impact through direct investment, job creation, and by positioning Vietnam as a strategic technology hub in Southeast Asia.