AFTER a resounding success last year, the Southeast Asia (SEA) region’s premier event for the global electronics manufacturing and design supply chain, SEMICON SEA, will be once again returning to Penang this year!
The 28th edition of the prestigious event, SEMICON SEA 2023, will be held at the Setia SPICE Arena and Convention Centre from May 23 to 25.
The event will welcome in-person delegates and attendees to discuss critical topics driving the industry including sustainability, smart manufacturing, smart mobility, smart medtech and workforce development.
Themed ‘Boosting Agility and Resiliency of the Electronics Supply Chain in Southeast Asia’, SEMICON SEA 2023 will also gather experts from around the world to explore ways for the electronics industry to build a more robust supply chain as it navigates the current economic downturn and ongoing disruptions.
SEMICON SEA 2023 president Linda Tan said megatrends that include automation, the growth of artificial intelligence and soaring demand for electric vehicles continue to drive the dynamic semiconductor industry in the region.
“In Malaysia, Penang is leading the charge, with much of these technological advancements taking place in this state.
“Given this backdrop, we are pleased to return to Penang once again and leverage the state’s solid reputation as the Silicon Valley of the East for SEMICON SEA 2023.
“We are confident that the delegates from Southeast Asia, as well as other leading semiconductor nations across the globe, will be able to leverage Penang’s expertise and understanding of the industry during the event in May this year,” Tan told a media conference at the InvestPenang office in Bayan Lepas today.
Also present was Chief Minister’s special investment adviser Datuk Seri Lee Kah Choon.
Tan said they are also heartened by the continued support from the Penang government, via InvestPenang.
“Last year, SEMICON SEA 2022 garnered a record attendance of close to 14,000 delegates!
“This clearly demonstrates that industry participants recognise the need to connect, collaborate and innovate to grow and compete.
“Thus, we are confident that the event this year will garner similar, if not more attendance,” she said.
According to Lee, as Penang is one of the most vibrant destinations for the semiconductor industry, the theme for this year speaks for the state’s focus.
“Having over 50 years of industrial excellence, agility and resiliency are among the values that Penang strongly upholds.
“We constantly seize the opportunities arising from global development in a very timely manner and continuously source for ways to move up the value chain to stay relevant to the industry,” he said.
Lee added that Penang also has demonstrated its significance in the electrical and electronics (E&E) sector by constantly contributing between 56 and 60% of the country’s E&E exports over the past four years.
“In 2022, the state reached its all-time high of RM452 billion in total exports, and recorded a trade surplus of RM126 billion, representing 49% of the country’s total.
“Thus, I believe that Penang’s commendable performance over the years has made us a well-fitted location to host SEMICON SEA 2023,” said Lee.
According to him, SEMICON SEA also is one of the projects that Penang is very proud of.
“This is a platform for us to work together with the industry players to share information and to look at business opportunities and to look at how we can enhance the supply chains, not only within Malaysia and this region but also globally.
“So, we look forward to welcoming delegates from leading semiconductor nations and are confident that this event will be a resounding success,” he added.
It is also learnt that the SEMICON SEA 2023 would feature highlights such as the ‘CxO Summit’ on boosting agility and resiliency of the electronics supply chain in Southeast Asia, a roundtable discussion on investment opportunities in Southeast Asia, a forum on various economic issues such as market and industry trends, career fair and talks, and many others.
There will also be the launching of SEMI University, an online learning management system comprising courses targeted towards industry professionals in the semiconductor and electronics industry.
Story and pix by Riadz Akmal