SEMICON SEA 2026 kicks off in Kuala Lumpur with bold semiconductor ambitions

SEMICON Southeast Asia (SEMICON SEA) 2026 officially opened on May 5 at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC) in Kuala Lumpur. The three-day event brings together over 20,000 attendees, including industry leaders, policymakers, and technology experts from Asia, the US, and Europe. Organised in partnership with the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), the event highlights Malaysia’s push to expand its role in the global semiconductor sector. The launch was officiated by YB Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani, Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI), alongside SEMI’s leadership and senior executives from major semiconductor firms. In his remarks, Datuk Sikh Shamsul Ibrahim Sikh Abdul Majid, MIDA’s CEO, stressed that Malaysia is no longer just a beneficiary of global semiconductor trends but an active builder of the industry’s future. This aligns with the New Industrial Master Plan 2030 (NIMP 2030), which seeks to shift the electronics and electrical (E&E) sector beyond basic assembly into design, advanced packaging, and innovation-driven manufacturing.

The event’s agenda covers critical industry themes, including manufacturing scale-up, smart packaging, intelligent automation, and workforce development. Key programs feature the Executive Leadership Summit, MIDA’s Strategic Semiconductor Forum, and the Sustainability and Energy Summit. Younger talent is also engaged through initiatives like the TechZoomers Challenge and TalentCONNECT. Ajit Manocha, President and CEO of SEMI, underscored the need for tighter collaboration across design, manufacturing, materials, and supply chains. He noted that such partnerships are essential for sustaining growth in the fast-evolving semiconductor landscape. The long-standing collaboration between MIDA and SEMI—spanning over a decade—has already focused on ecosystem integration, enterprise capability, and talent development to secure Malaysia’s position in the sector.

SEMICON SEA 2026 runs until May 7, offering a platform for networking, innovation, and strategic discussions. The event reinforces Malaysia’s ambition to become a hub for high-value semiconductor activities, from design to advanced manufacturing. With strong government and industry backing, the outcomes are expected to shape the country’s tech and investment roadmap for years to come.