Kuala lumpur: Malaysia will continue to strengthen its semiconductor ecosystem this year through supply chain integration, local capability development and high-value partnerships, with platforms such as SEMICON Southeast Asia (SEMICON SEA) 2026 expected to play a catalytic role. SEMICON SEA 2026 is scheduled for May 5 to 7 at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC), in strategic partnership with the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) and the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA).
According to BERNAMA News Agency, MIDA chief executive officer Datuk Sikh Shamsul Ibrahim Sikh Abdul Majid stated that the RM28.5 billion secured by the electrical and electronics sector in 2025 is proof that global confidence in Malaysia has not wavered. He emphasized that under the New Industrial Master Plan 2030, Malaysia aims to not only maintain its position in the global semiconductor supply chain but also to reshape it.
'We continue to build a robust ecosystem to match that confidence, through supply chain integration, local capability development, and the kind of high-value partnerships that platforms like SEMICON Southeast Asia are uniquely placed to catalyse. MIDA's role here is not as a bystander. We are active builders of this industry's next chapter in Malaysia, and we are here to build it together,' he said in a statement.
The statement highlights that SEMICON Southeast Asia 2026 arrives as Malaysia transitions beyond its established strengths in assembly and test into higher-value activities, including design, advanced packaging and innovation-led manufacturing. Meanwhile, SEMI president and chief executive officer Ajit Manocha noted that the global semiconductor industry is projected to reach US$1 trillion in annual sales in 2026, driven by an expanding artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure boom.
Manocha added that Southeast Asia has emerged as a significant driver of global semiconductor growth, having outperformed the broader industry over the past few years. This growth is supported by sustained expansion in manufacturing capacity, assembly, testing and packaging, as well as increased integration into global semiconductor supply chains.
Themed 'Transform Tomorrow', SEMICON SEA 2026, the region's premier platform for the global semiconductor and electronics manufacturing supply chain, will focus on accelerating next-generation technologies while addressing current structural challenges. The event is expected to attract more than 20,000 innovators, policymakers and technology experts, fostering collaboration across the global semiconductor value chain. It will also feature discussions on AI, smart manufacturing, sustainability, workforce development, advanced packaging and supplier sourcing.
SEMICON SEA is supported by major industry partners and sponsors, including Diamond Sponsors GlobalFoundries, Lam Research, Micron, Sandisk Corporation and Tokyo Electron Limited; Platinum Sponsors Applied Materials, Global TechSolutions, Schneider Electric, SGS, Soitec and STATS ChipPAC; and Gold Sponsors Advantest, ASE, ECOWorld, Henkel, IAQ, KLA, Kulicke and Soffa, Siemens, Singtest and STMicroelectronics.