Malaysia's Johor state has emerged as a main hub for data center construction in the country, attributed to its proximity to Singapore, relatively, inexpensive land, water, and electricity resources, and the ongoing China-US trade conflicts, all of which are attracting more multinational corporations to establish operations there.
Apart from Taiwan and China, Malaysia has emerged as a new semiconductor powerhouse in Southeast Asia, thanks to its competitive production costs and support from global manufacturers.
As smartphone sales plateau compared to the rapid growth seen 5-10 years ago, Taiwan's optical solutions providers, primarily serving the smartphone market, are seeking new growth engines, such as exploring new end applications and clientele to mitigate the risks associated with reliance on a single application or customer.
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella's tour across Southeast Asia has concluded, having visited three key countries: Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia, as part of the company's strategic outreach efforts in the region.
Microsoft Corp. will invest $2.2 billion to build digital infrastructure in Malaysia, the latest in a series of big-ticket bets on Asia's rising prominence as a technology market.
Microsoft Corp. will invest $1.7 billion to build out cloud computing and artificial intelligence infrastructure in Indonesia, betting on Southeast Asia's biggest economy to spur growth.
Notebook production in Vietnam has increased dramatically, making the country the second largest source of imports to the US behind China, according to government sources.
Taiwan's major NAND controller manufacturer Phison Electronics has decided to establish a startup company, MaiStorage, with an investment of MYR 100 million (US$21.09 million).
King Yuan Electronics (KYEC) decided to sell its assets in China, another Taiwan-based OSAT major leaving China, as the US-China geopolitical tensions are reshaping the OSAT industry.
Smart wearable and GPS giant Garmin has decided to expand its production into Southeast Asia as part of its long-term strategy for the next 10-20 years, with initial production lines in Thailand to focus on automotive navigation OEM products.
Malaysia aims to move beyond the packaging and testing industry into the chip design sector along the semiconductor supply chain by announcing Southeast Asia's largest IC design park.
Taiwan's PCB and semiconductor equipment manufacturers are poised to enhance their footprint in Southeast Asia by establishing manufacturing operations or bolstering their customer base in the region.
The international maritime logistics sector has faced multiple challenges, including the 2023 Red Sea crisis and the recent conflict between Israel and Iran. The regional tension has also alerted automotive suppliers, who are monitoring potential disruptions.
