Where will be Apple’s data center set up? Local newspapers last week reported that Apple had been looking for investment locations in Da Nang City.   The news that Apple would invest $1 billion in Vietnam where it plans to set up a data center was first released in March 2016. The center is expected to act as one of the group’s research & development centers.  The move, if taken, shows Apple’s interest in Vietnam, one of its fastest growing markets. In October 2015, Apple established a subsidiary in Vietnam, called Apple Vietnam LLC. The legal representative is Gene Daniel Levoff, who is the group’s Vice President of Corporate Law and Director. If the data center is established, this will be Apple’s first project in Vietnam, while other technology giants such as Intel, Microsoft, Samsung, LG and Microsoft all have been developing their projects in Vietnam. If the data center is established, this will be Apple’s first project in Vietnam, while other technology giants such as Intel, Microsoft, Samsung, LG and Microsoft all have been developing their projects in Vietnam. In the latest news, local newspapers, quoting foreign sources, have reported that Apple’s high-ranking executives would pay a working visit to Da Nang in late August before making a final decision on investment. A senior official of the Da Nang City Investment Promotion Center confirmed that his center has been informed about the plan to receive investors who would visit and have working sessions with local authorities in the second half of the year. The investors include ones from Apple. Da Nang is a good choice for any investors with the best PCI (provincial competitiveness index) in Vietnam for the last three consecutive years. The city has created preferential policies and reformed administrative procedures to attract investors. However, he said the US group has also been considering opportunities in other localities including Hanoi and HCMC. He also said that Apple had expressed its intention to set up a data center with Da Nang authorities 4-5 months ago. However, it still has not made contact after the working session with local authorities. An analyst said that being the world’s leading technology group, Apple will be welcomed by many localities. The most attractive locality for Apple, or any other technology groups is the one which can best satisfy them in human resources. The localities which offer big investment incentives won’t have much significance. For those reasons, some sources said Apple is likely to set up a data center in Hanoi. The city’s authorities have reportedly suggested locations and introduced investment procedures.  Meanwhile, other sources said Apple is eying HCMC and Binh Duong province. TBKTSG