The global semiconductor industry is entering a "multi-trillion-dollar" growth cycle sooner than expected, SEMI President and CEO Ajit Manocha said, urging Southeast Asian countries to strengthen cooperation to address talent, energy, and geopolitical challenges. Manocha predicted rapid revenue expansion driven by AI, IoT, and quantum demand.
Manocha said he had once predicted US$1 trillion in industry revenue by 2030, but revised that timeline dramatically. "I was wrong, because US$1 trillion in revenue will be achieved earlier, in 2026," he said, adding that SEMI projects the market could reach US$1.4 trillion to US$1.8 trillion by 2030 and that some experts view even the higher estimate as conservative. He further predicted the industry would surpass US$2 trillion by 2035.
To confront shared vulnerabilities, Manocha said no single company or country could respond alone. SEMI has launched the "SEMI International Policy Summit" (SIPS) platform to integrate industry, government, academia, and civil society into a collaborative "quadruple helix" model to address geopolitical risks, talent shortages, energy constraints, and the implications of PFAS chemical bans.
SEMI Southeast Asia highlights transformation and persistent challenges
Linda Tan, president of SEMI Southeast Asia, described the region's semiconductor transformation as a present reality rather than a future aspiration, noting deeper integration into the global value chain through technology transfer. She said that as technology evolved, semiconductors had become the foundation of global technological progress and lifestyle innovation, and that SEMI Global's 2026 theme, "Transforming Tomorrow," was particularly relevant to Southeast Asia.
Tan outlined three shared challenges for the region—talent development, energy sustainability, and supply chain resilience—and framed SEMICON SEA as more than a trade show: a platform for industry, government, and academia to discuss issues, build partnerships, and convert ideas into execution. She pointed to strong exhibitor turnout at the 2026 exhibition as evidence of global industry confidence in Malaysia and Southeast Asia. She announced that SEMICON SEA would return to Malaysia in 2027, coinciding with SEMI's 10-year presence in the country.
Government backing and regional strategy
Tan thanked Malaysia's Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) and the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) for strategic support, saying government backing had aligned industry needs with national development goals. She urged the industry to collaborate more boldly during the week-long event to help shape the sector's future.
Malaysia's Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani, said Malaysia stood at a critical transformation point and intends to use the National Semiconductor Strategy (NSS) to shift from back-end service provision to an industry leader with independent technology capabilities. He framed Malaysia's strategic value amid rising geopolitical tensions and protectionism, noting that the country and the ASEAN region offer a strong manufacturing base, a skilled workforce, and a neutral stance.
As 2025 ASEAN chair, Malaysia is committed to promoting the ASEAN Federation Integrated Semiconductor Supply Chain (AFISC), to build ASEAN into "the world's most competitive semiconductor hub," Johari said.
Article translated by Jingyue Hsiao and edited by Jerry Chen