FPT AI Factories Ranked Among World’s Fastest Supercomputers in TOP500 List
FPT’s AI factories in Japan and Vietnam have secured the 36th and 38th spots respectively in the June 2025 edition of the TOP500 list, marking a significant milestone for the global tech firm. The Japan-based AI factory, with 146,304 cores, delivered 49.85 PFLOPS, while the Vietnam facility achieved 46.65 PFLOPS using 142,240 cores. Both leverage InfiniBand NDR400 interconnects to support large-scale AI and high-performance computing (HPC) workloads with low latency and high scalability. This recognition establishes FPT as the No.1 commercial AI cloud provider in Japan, offering cutting-edge NVIDIA H200 Tensor Core GPUs (SXM5), and highlights Vietnam’s emergence as a global AI player, ranking among the top 15 AI nations.
The inclusion in the 65th edition of the TOP500 underscores FPT’s global engineering expertise and leadership in AI infrastructure. The company plans to build three more AI factories worldwide in the next five years, supporting its vision to make AI more accessible and drive digital transformation across sectors. FPT’s efforts are backed by strategic partnerships with NVIDIA, Mila, and AITOMATIC, reinforcing its commitment to AI innovation. Developed under the philosophy of “Build Your Own AI,” FPT’s infrastructure enables businesses and individuals globally to tailor AI solutions to their needs, accelerating R&D and the adoption of advanced technologies.
https://vir.com.vn/fpt-ai-factories-named-among-top500-worlds-fastest-supercomputers-131170.html
Editor’s Note: FPT’s AI factories in Japan and Vietnam ranked 36th and 38th in the June 2025 TOP500 list of the world’s fastest supercomputers, showcasing their leadership in high-performance AI infrastructure powered by NVIDIA H200 Tensor Core GPUs and InfiniBand NDR400. This milestone reinforces FPT’s global ambitions, as it plans to expand with three more AI factories and drive digital transformation through its “Build Your Own AI” vision supported by partnerships with NVIDIA, Mila, and AITOMATIC.
SpaceX Explores Healthcare Collaboration with Vietnam’s Ministry of Health
A delegation from SpaceX, led by Andrew Matlock, director of enterprise sales, met with Vietnam’s Ministry of Health (MoH) on June 18 in Hanoi to explore potential collaboration in enhancing the country’s healthcare infrastructure. Discussions focused on expanding internet connectivity for hospitals and clinics in remote regions through SpaceX’s Starlink satellite system, developing digital infrastructure for remote medical services, streamlining healthcare operations, and exploring public investment opportunities. Deputy Minister of Health Tran Van Thuan welcomed the cooperation, proposing active information exchange and assigning key departments to coordinate with SpaceX on the proposed initiatives.
The MoH emphasised the government’s strong focus on digital transformation in the health sector, including the rollout of electronic health records, telemedicine, and data centres. Despite progress, challenges persist in remote and underserved areas, prompting the need for global partnerships. SpaceX, which operates a global high-speed internet service via its satellite network, had previously announced a $1.5 billion investment plan to improve broadband connectivity in Vietnam. In the initial phase, the company aims to establish 10–15 ground stations across the country to support internet access in border, island, and remote regions.
https://vir.com.vn/spacex-seeks-opportunities-in-vietnams-healthcare-sector-131127.html
Editor’s Note: SpaceX met with Vietnam’s Ministry of Health to explore using its Starlink satellite system to improve internet connectivity and digital infrastructure for remote healthcare services. Backed by a $1.5 billion investment, SpaceX plans to install 10–15 ground stations across Vietnam, supporting the country’s digital health transformation and access in underserved regions.
Vietnam Enacts World‑First Stand‑Alone Digital Technology Law
Vietnam’s National Assembly has passed the Law on Digital Technology Industry, making the country the first to adopt a dedicated statute for the sector. Approved on June 14 with 441 of 445 votes and set to take effect on January 1 2026, the law is designed to accelerate national digital transformation, give legal certainty to artificial intelligence, digital assets and data services, and help realise the “Make in Vietnam” goal of nurturing 150,000 tech firms by 2035. Drafted by the Ministry of Science and Technology, it aligns with Politburo Resolutions 57‑NQ/TW and 68‑NQ/TW and offers a framework for deeper global integration of Vietnam’s digital economy.
The legislation couples broad incentives with tight governance: domestic startups can recoup up to 50 percent of technology‑acquisition and prototype costs, SMEs gain procurement and infrastructure support, and qualifying foreign‑invested enterprises receive multi‑year corporate‑tax breaks for transferring advanced technologies. Additional provisions include import‑duty exemptions for R&D equipment, personal‑income‑tax holidays for Vietnamese digital specialists, five‑year visa waivers for foreign experts, a regulatory sandbox for virtual‑asset pilots, and a risk‑based regime for high‑risk AI. New digital‑technology zones and overseas representative offices will further attract capital, talent and partnerships, cementing Vietnam’s ambition to become a regional innovation hub.
Editor’s Note: Vietnam has become the first country to pass a standalone Digital Technology Industry Law, aimed at accelerating its digital transformation and supporting 150,000 tech firms by 2035 through legal clarity on AI, digital assets, and data services. Effective from January 2026, the law offers incentives like tax breaks, R&D support, and visa waivers while promoting global integration and establishing Vietnam as a regional innovation hub.
Thailand Crafts First National AI Law Aiming to Spur Innovation and Guard Against Risk
Thailand’s Electronic Transactions Development Agency (ETDA) has wrapped up public hearings on a draft Artificial Intelligence Bill and plans to submit it for cabinet approval by the end of July, laying the groundwork for the kingdom’s first binding AI legislation. Built on two earlier draft laws—one regulating AI‑enabled business services, the other promoting AI innovation—the new measure adopts a risk‑based framework inspired by the EU’s AI Act, empowering sectoral regulators to classify systems as prohibited, high‑risk or general use. ETDA’s four‑tier governance model ranges from international cooperation and sector oversight to corporate guidelines and public AI literacy, while providers—domestic or foreign—must meet “duty of care” obligations and overseas vendors will have to appoint local legal representatives.
The bill’s promoters say it will unlock broader AI adoption by clearing legal roadblocks, authorising sandboxes for real‑world testing, and allowing limited reuse of personal data for public‑benefit AI projects. Two new committees—the Regulator Committee and an expert panel to track emerging risks—would guide enforcement. Feedback from 80 organisations, including Google and Microsoft, has largely applauded the balanced approach, though concerns linger over the readiness of sector regulators and the breadth of definitions. Thai tech leaders are urging clear high‑risk criteria, tiered compliance for SMEs, certified “AI auditors” and a public AI‑incident portal, while startups advocate phased labelling for AI‑generated content to curb deepfakes without stifling innovation.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/general/3059684/an-intelligent-approach-to-ai-governance
Editor’s Note: Thailand is set to introduce its first AI law, modeled on the EU’s AI Act, to balance innovation with risk through a tiered regulatory framework, real-world testing sandboxes, and “duty of care” obligations for providers. While welcomed by global tech firms, the draft law has spurred local calls for clearer definitions, SME-friendly compliance, and stronger safeguards against risks like deepfakes.
AIS Rolls Out Thailand’s First Hyperscale Cloud Platform to Boost AI‑Driven Growth
Advanced Info Service has launched AIS Cloud, a 4‑billion‑baht hyperscale service built on Oracle Cloud Infrastructure and hosted entirely in Thai data centres to meet the nation’s cybersecurity and data‑sovereignty requirements. Touted as a catalyst for Thailand’s fast‑growing AI market—projected to surge from ฿12.2 billion in 2023 to ฿95.1 billion by 2028—the platform offers auto‑scaling capacity for demanding AI and machine‑learning workloads, contracts and billing in Thai baht, and local after‑sales support. Digital Economy and Society permanent secretary Wisit Wisitsora‑at said geopolitical uncertainty and sustainability pressures are forcing enterprises to modernise, while AIS chief enterprise business officer Phupa Akavipat positioned the service as the backbone of Thailand’s digital transformation and “long‑term technological sovereignty.”
AIS Cloud is the first provider to earn depa’s top‑tier dSURE 3‑Star certification for safety, cybersecurity and environmental responsibility, granting corporate customers access to tax incentives via the agency’s digital‑service catalogue. Depa CTO Passakon Prathombutr said the award underscores the government’s push for universal, high‑standard cloud access. AIS added that its locally governed infrastructure shields businesses from foreign‑exchange risk, eases compliance, and offers a resilient foundation for deep‑tech innovation across healthcare, logistics, agriculture and tourism.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/general/3058940/ais-launches-b4bn-thai-cloud-service
Editor’s Note: AIS has launched Thailand’s first hyperscale cloud platform, AIS Cloud, in partnership with Oracle and hosted entirely in Thai data centres to support secure, scalable AI workloads and meet national data sovereignty needs. With dSURE 3 Star certification and strong government backing, the platform aims to fuel Thailand’s digital transformation, offering local businesses tax incentives, compliance ease, and a stable foundation for deep tech innovation.
Thailand Commits US$5.4 Billion to AI Drive, Plans UNESCO‑Backed Governance Hub in Bangkok
Thailand will invest US$5.4 billion in artificial‑intelligence infrastructure by 2027 and partner with UNESCO to establish Southeast Asia’s first AI Governance Practice Centre (AIGPC) in Bangkok, the government announced at the UNESCO Global Forum on the Ethics of AI. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra said the centre—set to open in January 2026 at the Digital Economy and Society Ministry—will act as a regional node for information‑exchange, training and collaboration, underpinned by an action plan devised by the Electronic Transactions Development Agency (ETDA).
The AI push targets 10 million users, 90,000 professionals and 50,000 developers, alongside an open‑source AI infrastructure and a US$61 million national data centre expected to generate about US$50 million in sectoral value. UNESCO director‑general Audrey Azoulay welcomed the move, warning that AI’s benefits must be balanced against risks of inequality and disinformation. Officials said the Bangkok hub will help align Thailand’s rapid digitisation with global ethical standards and position the kingdom as the Asia‑Pacific’s AI governance leader.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/general/3057912/thai-ai-investment-commitments-top-15-billion
Editor’s Note: Thailand will invest US$5.4 billion in AI infrastructure by 2027 and launch Southeast Asia’s first UNESCO-backed AI Governance Practice Centre in Bangkok to promote ethical AI adoption, training, and collaboration. Targeting 10 million users and 90,000 professionals, the initiative includes open-source infrastructure and a national data centre to align Thailand’s digital growth with global standards.
ASEAN Digital Ministers Unite in Bangkok to Tackle Online Scams and Boost Regional Cyber Resilience
At the 5th ASEAN Digital Ministerial Meeting in Bangkok (Jan 16–17), Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Digital Economy & Society Minister Prasert Chantararuangthong rallied counterparts from the 10‑nation bloc and dialogue partners around a common agenda: safeguarding Southeast Asia’s fast‑growing digital economy from cyber threats. Ministers endorsed the 2023‑24 ASEAN Online Scam Survey Report as a blueprint for joint action, pledged to create an early‑warning system for cross‑border fraud, and welcomed the launch of ASEAN CERT in Singapore alongside a new Checklist on Cyberspace Norms to harmonise incident‑response standards.
The gathering also advanced work on an ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement to speed digital‑trade integration, backed fresh investment channels for regional tech start‑ups, and approved data‑governance and AI‑ethics documents—including guidelines for generative AI—to ensure transparency and personal‑data protection. Delegates discussed lowering cross‑border mobile fees and tightening SIM‑card registration rules to curb scam calls originating in border areas such as Thailand‑Cambodia and Thailand‑Myanmar, underlining ASEAN’s resolve to build a secure, inclusive and innovation‑driven digital future.
https://www.nationthailand.com/business/tech/40045300
Editor’s Note: At the 5th ASEAN Digital Ministerial Meeting in Bangkok, ministers united to combat cyber threats by endorsing a regional scam response framework, launching ASEAN CERT, and advancing incident response standards. The gathering also pushed forward digital trade integration, AI ethics guidelines, and measures to boost tech startups, all aimed at building a secure and inclusive digital future across Southeast Asia.
World Bank Warns Thai SMEs Trail ASEAN Rivals in Innovation, Spurring Factory Closures
Thai small‑ and medium‑sized enterprises are falling dangerously behind regional peers in research, development and technology adoption, according to the World Bank’s Thailand Economic Monitor – February 2025. Only 11.9 percent of Thai firms report process innovation, compared with 40.9 percent in the Philippines, 37.9 percent in Vietnam and 37.3 percent in Malaysia; a mere 1.1 percent invest in R&D. National Economic and Social Development Council secretary‑general Danucha Pichayanan said the shortfall, compounded by trade‑war headwinds, has fed a wave of shutdowns—nearly 24,000 SME deregistrations and 1,234 factory closures in 2024 alone—costing more than 35,000 jobs, mostly in manufacturing.
The World Bank ranks Thailand last among five ASEAN economies for introducing new products, adopting foreign technology and spending on R&D, warning that the innovation gap threatens long‑term competitiveness. The NESDC urges expanded finance, tax incentives and stronger public‑private collaboration to help the kingdom’s 12.9 million SME workforce upgrade production, trim costs and withstand global volatility. Bridging the gap, the council says, is critical not only to stabilise employment but to unlock untapped export and growth potential for Thai industry.
https://www.nationthailand.com/blogs/business/economy/40051268
Editor’s Note: The World Bank warns that Thai SMEs significantly lag regional peers in innovation and R&D, contributing to over 24,000 business shutdowns and 35,000 job losses in 2024. To regain competitiveness and unlock growth potential, the NESDC urges greater financing, tax support, and stronger public-private collaboration to help SMEs modernize and adapt to global pressures.