
Zafrul: ASEAN At ‘Pivotal Moment' To Secure Global Semiconductor Leadership
He said the world is at a critical juncture, with semiconductors becoming indispensable across multiple industries, and ASEAN is uniquely positioned to rise as a global hub.
'With a growing number of industries requiring semiconductors as key components, ASEAN is at a pivotal moment in history where it has not just the capacity, but also the strategic neutrality, to strengthen its positioning as the world's leading hub for semiconductors.
'I am confident ASEMIS 2025 will forge greater cooperation between the public and private sector which will enhance the already strong growth momentum of the semiconductor industry across the region,' he said in a statement today.
The inaugural summit, themed 'Shaping the Future of ASEAN's Semiconductor Industry', will be held tomorrow in Petaling Jaya. Organised by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) in collaboration with the Malaysian Semiconductor Industry Association (MSIA), the one-day event aims to position ASEAN as a leading global hub for semiconductor manufacturing, technological security and innovation.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is scheduled to deliver a keynote address. The summit will gather 500 participants, including policymakers, economists, industry analysts, sovereign fund representatives and corporate leaders from across ASEAN and Asia.
MSIA president Datuk Seri Wong Siew Hai said the event would offer delegates opportunities to connect with key decision-makers and industry captains, facilitating collaborations that can drive ASEAN's competitiveness.
'We are pleased to partner with MITI in organising ASEMIS 2025 for stakeholders to network, gain strategic insights, and help curate the future of the semiconductor industry in ASEAN,' he said.
The programme will also feature a panel discussion with industry association leaders from Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam, focusing on public-private partnerships and deeper regional cooperation. Related
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


New Straits Times
3 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Cross-border trade to thrive after high-level consultation
IT took bilateral summitry at the highest level to revive cross-border free-trade arrangement at the Tebedu-Entikong border crossing between Sarawak and West Kalimantan in Indonesia. This deal was one of the highlights of the 13th Malaysia-Indonesia Annual Consultation meeting between Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto in Jakarta this week. Also present were Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg and Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Mohd Noor. Sarawak had long sought to revive the free flow of goods since Indonesia unilaterally stopped it in 2016. Sarawak set up an inland port early in 2010 because it seemed to make good economic sense to transport goods from Kuching Port to West Kalimantan via the Tebedu inland port rather than all the way from Java. At its height in 2013, some RM700 million in goods were reported to be traded this way. Numerous Sarawak missions to Indonesia seeking to reinstate the free-trade arrangement since then had been fruitless. It, of course, hardly needs stressing that free trade benefits all who engage in it. It also makes geographic sense for transshipment of goods to and from West Kalimantan via Tebedu and Kuching. Naturally, it also needs to be acknowledged that West Kalimantan has similar aspirations to become a trade transshipment hub with the commissioning of a new deep sea port near Pontianak, the provincial capital. The new port will also be well-served by land adjoining it, which has been earmarked for the development of industries. It so happened that a trade delegation from Sarawak led by Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan was in West Kalimantan and East Kalimantan, also this week. The main mission was, of course, to deepen the economic relationship not just with West Kalimantan bordering Sarawak but in East Kalimantan where the new Indonesian capital of Nusantara is being developed. Sarawak has already identified several joint-ventures in developing dams in Kalimantan and even major real estate developer Ibraco Bhd was scouting about for possible projects in Balikpapan, the major city adjoining Nusantara. Awang Tengah was reportedly also reviewing localities for setting up a Sarawak trade and tourism office in Pontianak. This comes on the heels of the revival of air connectivity between Kuching and Pontianak next month. There has been much clamour both in Sarawak and West Kalimantan for flights between the two cities to resume after they were stopped during the Covid-19 pandemic. People-to-people exchanges have come back strongly since as witnessed by the daily long queues at the Tebedu-Entikong main border crossing as well as other secondary border posts. All these positive developments must be sustained through regular high-level official exchanges, especially in showing to the Indonesian side that free trade and the free flow of people across our common border is not a zero-sum proposition benefiting only one side. What happened in Jakarta this week also shows that Sarawak and Sabah can and do benefit substantially from close state-federal ties and working in tandem to take the fullest advantage from similarly close Malaysia-Indonesia bilateral ties.


Focus Malaysia
5 hours ago
- Focus Malaysia
Tanco and N. Sembilan state gov't further refine ties to accelerate Port Dickson Free Zone dev't
RESORT-CENTRIC property developer Tanco Holdings Bhd has unveiled the inking of a supplemental agreement with Menteri Besar Negeri Sembilan (Pemerbadanan) (MBINS) through its indirect subsidiary Tanco Land Sdn Bhd. This follows both parties' earlier joint venture agreement per their collaboration for the proposed development of the Port Dickson Free Zone (PDFZ) project, the incorporation of their JV vehicle (PDFZ Sdn Bhd) and the purchase of the first 300 acres of the land by MBINS. This latest agreement further enhances and clarifies both parties' JV relationship as well as the land acquisition process in respect of the development of the strategically important Port Dickson Free Zone (PDFZ) project. Under the terms of the supplemental agreement, financing/funding for MBINS's direct purchase of the first 300-acre portion of strategically located land in Mukim Pasir Panjang, Port Dickson at a purchase price of RM88.5 mil will be supported by advances from Tanco. The agreement also establishes a clear framework for future growth. Negotiations are actively being pursued by MBINS for a second 300-acre parcel with a commitment to secure the remaining land for the project and for the JV to be the exclusive developer for the entire PDFZ project, hence cementing its pivotal role in this large-scale development. 'With clear roles and streamlined acquisition process, we have established a foundation to swiftly advance the first phase of the 1,420-acre PDFZ project which is aligned with national priorities under Malaysia's National Physical Plan (NPP),' commented Tanco's group managing director Datuk Seri Andrew Tan Jun Suan. 'As one of the key contributors to the Malaysian Vision Valley 2.0 (MVV 2.0) initiative, this project will strategically complement our Smart AI Container Port (MIDPORT), hence reinforcing Negeri Sembilan's position as a pivotal hub for logistics, manufacturing and high-value industries.' Initiated on April 24, the MVV 2.0 initiative and MIDPORT projects have both been designated as 'National Strategic Priority Projects' by the National Physical Planning Council under Malaysia's comprehensive National Physical Plan (NPP). This designation provides streamlined approval processes, coordinated governmental support and priority access to essential resources. Being strategically situated near critical infrastructure such as Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), major expressways and the Straits of Malacca, PDFZ is poised to be an important and integral part of the broader MVV 2.0 initiative which is set to transform Negeri Sembilan into a globally competitive, high-tech industrial and logistics corridor. Together, both PDFZ and MIDPORT represent a strategic twin-engine of growth to attract substantial local and foreign investments, generate high-value employment opportunities and drive sustainable economic growth for Negeri Sembilan. At the close of today's (Aug 1) market trading, Tanco was up 0.5 sen or 0.6% to 84 sen with 63.73 million shares traded, thus valuing the company at RM4.62 bil. – Aug 1, 2025


The Star
6 hours ago
- The Star
ACCIM calls for enhanced tax incentives to boost Malaysian exports
PETALING JAYA: While praising the government's efforts to lower tariffs, the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (ACCIM) urged for increased tax incentives and grants to support exporters and businesses. Its president, Datuk Ng Yih Pyng, said the Allowance for Increased Exports (AIE) should be widened and increased as part of this reduction in tariff. 'Currently, an allowance equal to 10% of the value of increased exports, deductible against 70% of statutory income,' he said in a statement on Friday (Aug 1). He said that the government should also increase the lifetime cap of the Market Development Grant to RM500,000, while raising the per-claim ceiling to RM35,000 for international trade fairs and exhibitions, and RM10,000 for locally held trade fairs and exhibitions. He claimed that the current limits of RM5,000 for local and RM25,000 for overseas reimbursement were not enough. However, he also mentioned that he supports the Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry to help exporters address the current tariffs by improving their efficiency and productivity. At the same time, he also agrees to explore further government support for businesses, particularly those in small and medium enterprises, to adapt to the new baseline tariff rate. Its minister, Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz, said they would continue to work closely with stakeholders to maximise the opportunities from this development, including the strong momentum in approved investments, driven by ongoing infrastructure projects, a consistent realisation rate of over 85% for approved investments, as well as catalytic national development initiatives, in a statement on Friday. 'We remain committed to defending Malaysia's trade interests while fostering mutually beneficial partnerships with key economies, including the United States. Malaysia will also continue to pursue its industrial reform and strategic trade diversification initiatives to support the nation's growth,' he said.