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Vietnam's CMC and South Korea's Lotte Innovate Sign MoU to Develop Data Centers

By: IDCNOVARegion: Southeast Asia
CMC Corporation, one of Vietnam's largest technology companies, and Lotte Innovate, the IT and cloud services arm of South Korea's Lotte conglomerate, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to pursue joint data center development and broader digital infrastructure cooperation, a move that underscores the deepening technology ties between Vietnam and South Korea as demand for digital transformation and AI adoption accelerates across the region.

The strategic partnership agreement, formally executed this week, covers collaboration across data centers, EV charging, security, offshoring, and cloud services. In the data center segment, the two companies said they aim to jointly develop data center projects by combining CMC's infrastructure and operational strengths in Vietnam with Lotte Innovate's experience and customer ecosystem. Specific details regarding planned facilities, capacity targets, or investment amounts have not been disclosed.

CMC, founded in 1993, operates CMC Telecom, one of Vietnam's major telecommunications firms, and provides cloud services through CMC Cloud. The company maintains data centers in both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Lotte Innovate, founded in 1996 and formerly known as Lotte Data Communication, operates four data centers across South Korea in the Seoul, Daejeon, and Yongin areas, delivering cloud services via its L.Cloud platform. The company is also set to take over operations of Ansan GCC, a 40MW data center facility built by Igis Asset Management in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, scheduled to go live next year.

Minh Tran Van, CEO of CMC Korea, framed the partnership as a strategic milestone extending beyond CMC's global expansion ambitions. "Our partnership with Lotte Innovate goes beyond a step in CMC's global expansion strategy. It reflects the growing role of CMC Korea in connecting Vietnam's technology capabilities with Korea's leading corporations," he said, adding that the two sides expect to "not only deliver high-quality software development services together, but also co-create scalable digital solutions across Vietnam, Korea, and regional markets, as demand for digital transformation and AI adoption continues to accelerate across the region."

Choi Jong Pil, general director of Lotte Innovate Vietnam, described Vietnam as a cornerstone of the company's international growth plans. "Vietnam is a key market in Lotte Innovate's global strategy. Through this partnership agreement with CMC Corporation, we aim to combine the strengths of both sides and explore new opportunities in advanced technology areas, contributing to digital transformation and AI adoption for businesses in Vietnam and the region," he said.

The partnership arrives as Southeast Asia's data center market draws increasing interest from international operators and investors. Vietnam in particular has emerged as a focal point for digital infrastructure investment, driven by a young, digitally engaged population and rapid cloud adoption among domestic enterprises. For Lotte Innovate, the agreement offers a gateway into one of the region's fastest-growing technology markets, while CMC gains access to a major Korean corporate customer base and additional operational expertise. The collaboration also signals growing cross-border activity between Vietnamese and South Korean technology firms, building on broader investment flows between the two countries.