May 23, 2023 – Critical areas of semiconductor industry growth including sustainability, smart manufacturing, smart mobility, smart medtech and workforce development will take center stage over the next three-days at SEMICON Southeast Asia, the industry’s premier global electronics manufacturing and supply chain event. The opening was officiated by YAB Datuk Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Bin Hamidi, Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia and YAB Mr Chow Kon Yeow, Chief Minister, Penang.

Themed Boosting Agility and Resiliency for the Electronics Supply Chain, the event will gather industry leaders to explore ways for the electronics industry to build a more robust supply chain as it navigates the current economic downturn and ongoing disruptions. The event will connect semiconductor manufacturing equipment companies, private and public partners, and other key industry stakeholders to explore new collaboration and growth opportunities.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Ajit Manocha, CEO of SEMI said that SEMICON Southeast Asia 2023 underscores the significance of the Electrical and Electronics (E&E) industry both in Malaysia and the broader Southeast Asia region. “Despite geopolitical and economic uncertainties, the industry has strong fundamentals and is poised for exceptional longer-term growth on the strength of digital transformation and emerging applications in multiple markets. The proliferation of autonomous machines, electric vehicles, 6G and many other trends all require an increase in semiconductor content, which will bode well for the region.”

“The accelerating digital transformation and the convergence of AI (artificial intelligence), IoT (Internet of Things), AR/VR (augmented reality/virtual reality), quantum computing, autonomous machines and many other emerging technologies will touch virtually every end market, resulting in tremendous opportunities for the semiconductor industry. SEMICON Southeast Asia 2023 will drive conversations in this space, whilst also discussing the importance of sustainability and building stronger supply chains.”

The Chief Minister of Penang, YAB Mr. Chow Kon Yeow, expressed Penang’s commitment to promoting a supportive and dynamic business environment in the semiconductor sphere. “Home to a thriving ecosystem of semiconductor players, Penang is often lauded for its areas of expertise along the value chain. This allows for greater flexibility and responsiveness in the supply chain, enabling companies to quickly adapt to changing market conditions and customer needs. Having over 50 years of industrial excellence, the state, via InvestPenang, commits to nurture the growth of emerging subsectors, extending Penang’s depth and breadth in the semiconductor industry.”

“With the escalating pace of technological evolvement, the state recognizes the importance of agility and resiliency to ensure that the latest technology can be brought to market efficiently and at a timely manner. As the hosting state, we are proud to showcase our strengths in the field and the ways in which we can contribute to advance the industry as a whole,” Chow added.

Ms. Lim Bee Vian, Deputy Executive Officer of Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) said “SEMICON Southeast Asia has undeniably emerged as a paramount exposition for the electronics industry in this dynamic region.  MIDA is thrilled by the overwhelming interest and turnout we have received over the years from our longstanding and successful collaboration with SEMI Southeast Asia as well as like-minded supporters and partners of this event.”“The E&E industry is poised to continue its growth trajectory in 2023, driven by the increasing global demand for chips and semiconductor equipment. In 2022 alone, the industry attracted a total investment of RM29.3 billion from 106 projects, with an impressive 95.2% coming from foreign sources. These investments not only contributed to economic growth but also created employment opportunities, including highly skilled positions. With a well-established E&E industry’s ecosystem, Malaysia has become the magnet for the world’s largest and most innovative electronics companies, including industry giants like Intel, ST Microelectronics, Infineon, Micron, Texas Instruments, TF AMD, and Osram.”

“The presence of global MNCs, further enhanced local companies in our industry to meet the industrial needs of these MNCs and being very much part of the global value chain. Thus, indicating a clear vote of confidence in Malaysia’s strategic prowess. Furthermore, the country’s focus on accelerating the adoption of advanced factory automation and digitalisation aligns with the global trend toward greater reliance on digitalisation, ensuring sustained growth in the industry.”

SEMICON Southeast Asia 2023 Highlights

• CxO Summit on Boosting Agility and Resiliency of the Electronics Supply Chain in SEA

• Roundtable discussion on investment opportunities in Southeast Asia

· Workforce Development

• Career fair and talks
• SEMI SEA University Bootcamp
• Launch of SEMI University, an online learning management system comprising courses targeted towards industry professionals in the semiconductor and electronics

· Forums

• SMART Mobility
• Market and Industry trends
• SMART Enterprise
• Advanced Packaging
• SMART MedTech
• Advanced Product Testing
• Sustainability
• Smart Innovators Showcase to help expand the adoption of Industry 0 best practices and explore the latest smart manufacturing and sustainability solutions in the semiconductor industry.
• Industry VIP Networking Night for attendees to connect with industry leaders and

For the full event agenda, please visit the SEMICON Southeast Asia website.

SEMICON Southeast Asia will be moving to Kuala Lumpur in 2024, to be held in May 28-30 at Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC). The show in Kuala Lumpur will focus on smart mobility, smart manufacturing and sustainability.

About SEMI
SEMI® connects more than 2,500-member companies and 1.3 million professionals worldwide to advance the technology and business of electronics design and manufacturing. SEMI members are responsible for the innovations in materials, design, equipment, software, devices, and services that enable smarter, faster, more powerful, and more affordable electronic products. Electronic System Design Alliance (ESD Alliance), FlexTech, the Fab Owners Alliance (FOA), the MEMS & Sensors Industry Group (MSIG) and SOI Consortium are SEMI Strategic Technology Communities. Visit www.semi.org to learn more, contact one of our worldwide offices, and connect with SEMI on LinkedIn and Twitter.

About MIDA
MIDA is the government’s principal investment promotion and development agency under the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) to oversee and drive investments into the manufacturing and services sectors in Malaysia. Headquartered in Kuala Lumpur Sentral, MIDA has 12 regional and 20 overseas offices. MIDA continues to be the strategic partner to businesses in seizing the opportunities arising from the technology revolution of this era. For more information, please visit www.mida.gov.my  and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok and YouTube channel.

About InvestPenang
InvestPenang is the Penang State Government’s principal agency for promotion of investment. Its objectives are to develop and sustain Penang’s economy by enhancing and continuously supporting business activities in the State through foreign and local investments, including spawning viable new growth centers. To realise its objectives, InvestPenang also runs initiatives like the SMART Penang Center (providing assistance to SMEs), Penang CAT Center (for talent attraction and retention) and i4.0 seed fund (a catalyst for the startup ecosystem). For more information, please visit https://investpenang.gov.my/ and follow InvestPenang’s social media channels: Facebook ; LinkedIn.