Kuala lumpur: Malaysia is taking steps to foster collaboration with ASEAN partners to develop an integrated semiconductor supply chain, announced Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry Deputy Minister Liew Chin Tong. The initiative is aimed at turning regional ambitions into reality through joint investments, research partnerships, and knowledge sharing.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Deputy Minister Liew emphasized the importance of ASEAN unity, highlighting the region’s strategic location, dynamic workforce, and robust innovation and manufacturing capabilities. He stressed the need for policy alignment, infrastructure readiness, and cross-border collaboration to unlock the region’s potential.

As Malaysia chairs ASEAN this year, one of its Priority Economic Deliverables (PEDs) is the development of an ASEAN Framework for an Integrated Semiconductor Supply Chain. This framework is expected to be completed before Malaysia’s chairmanship ends. Additionally, Liew highlighted Malaysia’s transition from outsourced manufacturing to creating proprietary technologies under the ‘Made by Malaysia’ initiative, aiming for local companies to become multinational corporations (MNCs).

Malaysia’s commitment to the semiconductor industry was further solidified with the unveiling of the National Semiconductor Strategy (NSS) by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim last year. The strategy aims to position Malaysia as a global hub for semiconductor innovation, targeting the creation of 10 Malaysian technology companies with annual revenues exceeding US$1 billion and 100 semiconductor-related local companies with RM1 billion in annual revenue.