Vietnam PM vows quick licensing for Elon Musk’s Starlink
Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said on Saturday he had directed authorities to quickly grant a license to Elon Musk’s Starlink to provide satellite internet services in the country under a pilot scheme.
Chinh also told US businesses in a meeting in Hanoi that the Southeast Asian nation was taking measures to rebalance its trade surplus with the United States, the government said on its website, amid threats of tariffs from President Donald Trump.
“The PM has directed the Ministry of Science and Technology to quickly issue a license to Starlink internet (services) on a trial basis,” the government said on its website, reporting discussions Chinh had with U.S. businesses in the capital.
In February the Vietnamese parliament approved a temporary scheme to allow satellite internet companies to provide services in Vietnam while retaining full control on their local subsidiary – a precondition set by Musk.
Chinh told the businesspeople that Vietnam was taking measures to rebalance its trade surplus, citing potential imports of aircraft, arms, liquefied natural gas, agriculture goods and pharmaceutical products.
By Francesco Guarascio & Khanh Vu – Reuters – March 1st, 2025