Malaysia is charging ahead with plans to become a global semiconductor powerhouse, targeting 500 billion ringgit ($107 billion) in investments for advanced chip design and manufacturing. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim dropped the news this week, signaling a major play to move up the tech value chain. 🚀
From Backstage to Center Stage 🔌
Already handling 13% of global chip testing & packaging, Malaysia wants to tackle high-end tasks like integrated circuit design and advanced packaging. The country's rolling out $5.3 billion in fiscal support and plans Southeast Asia’s largest IC design park – think tax breaks, subsidies, and visa perks to lure tech giants. 💰
Global Players Bet Big 🤝
The semiconductor gold rush is already on:
Intel's building a $7B chip plant
Infineon's expanding with €5B
China’s Xfusion & StarFive setting up shop
Fun fact: Malaysia's become a hotspot as Chinese firms diversify supply chains. 🌐
Growing Homegrown Talent 🌱
Malaysia aims to nurture 10 local companies in chip design/packaging – each targeting $210M to $1B revenues. \"We're climbing the value chain,\" Anwar said at an industry event, though he kept the timeline under wraps. 🤫
Analysts say this could reshape global tech manufacturing. Your next phone or AI gadget? Might just have a Made-in-Malaysia brain. 📱
