SHAH ALAM, May 24 — The state government is seeking to strengthen semiconductor cooperation with the United States (US) as part of efforts to position Malaysia higher in the global semiconductor value chain amid rapid technological transformation.
State executive councillor for investment, trade, and mobility Ng Sze Han said the delegation has arrived in Arizona, described as the heart of America’s ‘Silicon Desert’ semiconductor corridor, following a 31-hour journey.
“The core mission of this US visit is to accelerate and elevate our semiconductor cooperation to the next level during this critical window of global tech transformation,” he said in a Facebook post yesterday.
The first day of the visit focused on technology and talent development through engagements with two globally recognised institutions.
The delegation first visited Intel’s Ocotillo Campus, where discussions centred on advancing Malaysia’s semiconductor ecosystem beyond its traditional strengths.
“While Intel has been a foundational pillar of Malaysia’s E&E ecosystem for over 50 years, our future growth depends on moving up the semiconductor value chain into front-end wafer fabrication and advanced packaging,” Ng said.
Moreover, gaining deep-tech insights from Intel’s research and manufacturing hub will help Malaysia understand the capabilities and vendor ecosystems needed to strengthen the local industry.
The delegation later visited Arizona State University’s MacroTechnology Works to explore talent development initiatives aimed at addressing skills shortages in the high-tech sector.
“To mitigate acute skills shortages in our high-tech sector, we explored Train-the-Trainer programmes designed to establish a high-yielding framework for workforce upskilling,” he said.
Ng added that the initiatives will be aligned with the Advanced Semiconductor Academy of Malaysia to help build a sustainable and future-ready talent pipeline for the country’s semiconductor industry.
“Cross-border institutional ties and targeted human capital development are the primary levers needed to increase Malaysia's economic complexity and secure long-term competitiveness in the global semiconductor corridor,” he said.
