HÀ NỘI — The south-central province of Khánh Hòa has granted an investment certificate for a VNĐ390 billion (US$15.5 million) high-tech plant to produce graphene, biochips and electronic components, as the province seeks to attract investment in advanced materials and biotechnology.

The Hememics Vietnam project is backed by US firm Hememics Biotechnologies Inc, Vietnamese investor Viet Khanh JSC and others. The facility will be built on more than 14,400sq.m at the Trảng É 2 Industrial Cluster in Suối Dầu Commune. 

The plant's first phase is scheduled to begin operations in the second quarter of 2027, while the second phase, running from 2028 to 2030, will expand production capacity, upgrade processing and testing systems, and strengthen research and development.

David Ho, chairman and chief scientific officer of Hememics Biotechnologies, said the investment certificate marked an important milestone for high-tech development in Việt Nam and Khánh Hòa Province.

Ho said much of the graphene currently available is in raw, lower-quality forms that did not meet the demanding requirements of advanced applications, including next-generation artificial intelligence chips, sophisticated biosensors and advanced energy-storage batteries.

Hememics has partnered with a Vietnamese company to establish the plant in Khánh Hòa to tap demand for higher-quality graphene, he said.  

Khánh Hòa attracted 42 investment projects in the first nine months of 2026, with total registered capital of about VNĐ112.9 trillion, according to provincial data.

The projects included six foreign-invested projects worth around VNĐ1.43 trillion.

The province also allowed 15 operating projects to raise their capital by VNĐ10.5 trillion.

Provincial People's Committee Vice Chairman Lê Huyền said the province would continue to address obstacles through direct dialogue and follow through on solutions.

The province has resolved difficulties and obstacles affecting stalled projects under its authority, helping unlock land resources, mobilise investment capital and restore momentum to project development, Huyền said.

From now to 2030, Khánh Hòa will continue to accelerate administrative reforms, shorten processing times for procedures and remove barriers facing investors. It will also seek to improve transparency and strengthen discipline, accountability and public-service performance among officials.

The province will also prioritise the development of coordinated infrastructure to expand investment opportunities and create new areas for growth. — VNS