Alibaba Cloud has launched a new public cloud region in Johor, Malaysia, adding two data centers as part of its push to expand cloud and AI infrastructure. The move is aimed at serving growing demand in Malaysia and across the region, with implications for businesses seeking faster, more secure digital services regionally.
India has expanded exemptions from mandatory quality certification requirements for imports by Special Economic Zone (SEZ) units and developers, a policy change that industry observers say could ease the establishment of semiconductor manufacturing facilities in the country.
SK Hynix is reviewing rare price increase requests from several tier-one equipment suppliers, a sign that the high-bandwidth memory boom is beginning to reshape pricing power in South Korea's semiconductor equipment supply chain.
During a panel discussion between executives and research experts from Bosch, Infineon, Rohm Semiconductor, Nexperia, Wolfspeed, and Omdia at PCIM Europe 2026, one reality was made clear: frictionless, globalized chip manufacturing is ending. While the conversation reflected industry enthusiasm for new applications such as AI servers and industrial motor drives, it was tempered by macroeconomic realities of international trade protectionism, regional resilience mandates, and aggressive tariffs.
Nvidia has begun telling Chinese clients that its new Vera central processing unit (CPU) could be available as soon as August and that they can start placing orders, Reuters reported, citing three people familiar with the matter.
Shin-Etsu Chemical plans to build a new rare earth production facility in Fukui Prefecture, aiming to expand domestic smelting capacity and reduce Japan's reliance on China for materials critical to electric vehicle and semiconductor manufacturing equipment, according to Nikkei and Kyodo News.
Samsung Electronics is regaining ground in high-bandwidth memory and foundry services, but advanced packaging remains a weak point in its bid to capture a larger share of the AI chip supply chain, according to industry sources and Korean media reports.
South Korea has launched a two-year, KRW34 billion (US$22.22 million) project to develop domestic world model and robot foundation model technologies, aimed at reducing reliance on foreign simulation platforms for physical AI systems used in real-world environments.
A strike by South Korea's ready-mix concrete transport union is disrupting major semiconductor construction sites and raising concerns about wider industrial spillovers. If the stoppage continues, delays could spread beyond building projects and affect production schedules that matter to global technology supply chains and investors.
Silicon Labs is deepening its presence in India through expanded research operations and a greater commercial focus on smart infrastructure applications, even as the US-based wireless chipmaker prepares for an acquisition by Texas Instruments.
Asus has announced plans to begin making gaming laptops in India this financial year — a move that could reshape supply chains, pricing, and availability in one of the world's fastest-growing PC markets. The shift underscores a broader trend of global technology brands localizing manufacturing to deepen market reach and reduce import dependence, according to the Hindu Business Line.
