Key Points
- Meta will manufacture its latest Quest 3S Mixed Reality headsets in Vietnam by 2025.
- The company is expanding its AI investment in the country, including testing Meta AI in Vietnamese.
- Meta AI for Messenger has been in testing since June, with a full rollout expected by the end of 2024.
- Meta views Vietnam as a crucial market, with millions of users and small businesses relying on its platforms.
Meta Platforms (META.O) announced on Tuesday plans to expand its investment in artificial intelligence (AI) and mixed reality technologies in Vietnam, marking a significant step in the company’s efforts to strengthen its presence in Southeast Asia. This move includes the production of Meta’s latest Quest 3S Mixed Reality headsets, which is set to begin in Vietnam by 2025.
The announcement came shortly after Nick Clegg, Meta’s president for global affairs, visited Vietnam as part of a tour to deepen ties with the country. This visit followed a recent meeting between Clegg and Vietnamese President To Lam in New York, underscoring the importance of the partnership. “Beginning in 2025, Meta will expand manufacturing of its latest Mixed Reality device Quest 3S to Vietnam,” Clegg stated, highlighting the company’s long-term investment vision for the country.
While Meta has not provided specifics on the scale of its investment or details about its current operations in Vietnam, the expansion signals a growing focus on the country’s manufacturing and technology development capabilities. The announcement also left unanswered whether the production of the Quest 3S would be done directly by Meta or through suppliers in Vietnam.
Vietnam plays a critical role for Meta, with tens of millions of users relying on its platforms like Facebook and Instagram. According to Clegg, Vietnam remains a key market, with many small businesses and consumers benefiting from Meta’s services. “Vietnam continues to be an important country for Meta. Millions of small businesses and consumers rely on our platforms,” Clegg emphasized, reaffirming the country’s strategic importance.
In addition to expanding its hardware production, Meta is pushing forward with its AI initiatives in Vietnam. The company revealed plans to start testing Meta AI in Vietnamese, which will likely further integrate its platforms into the local market. It follows Meta’s June rollout of Business AI for Messenger in Vietnam, which allows businesses to engage with customers more effectively using AI-powered tools. The country’s full launch of Business AI is expected by the end of 2024.
Meta’s focus on Vietnam aligns with its broader strategy to invest in regions with high growth potential for digital services and hardware. With AI integration and mixed reality production set to commence, Vietnam is emerging as a pivotal player in Meta’s global strategy.
