Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) has confirmed a high-stakes meeting with Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs at its Hsinchu headquarters took place. Following the meeting, Hobbs' first public tweet from Taiwan spotlighted her visit with Avnet. This indicates Arizona's push to deepen ties with Taiwan's tech industry during her March 16-19, 2025 visit.
On March 17, 2025, Hobbs met with TSMC executives to discuss the company's Phoenix wafer fabrication plants. The meeting also covered topics such as green manufacturing technology. "We are pleased to welcome Gov. Hobbs to TSMC's headquarters," the company stated. "We value the Arizona state government's support for our Phoenix project and look forward to ongoing collaboration."
Shortly after, Hobbs took to X to share her meeting with Prince Yun, Asia-Pacific president of Avnet. The Arizona-based electronic components distributor is celebrating 30 years in Taiwan. "Headquartered in Arizona, Avnet is part of our state's technology ecosystem," she wrote. "Today, we learned more about their Asia-Pacific operations. Thank you, Prince Yun, for hosting us."
Job creation at the heart of semiconductor partnership
The Arizona state administration emphasized that TSMC's latest plans of investing another US$100 billion would create 40,000 construction jobs and tens of thousands of jobs in the technology and manufacturing sectors. This builds on TSMC's existing commitment to the state.
Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) noted that in addition to TSMC, Hobbs will also talk with other company leaders to expand bilateral trade cooperation.
Strengthening diplomatic and business ties
Hobbs' itinerary includes a meeting with Taiwanese President William Lai. She will also attend a banquet with Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung. Additionally, she plans discussions with Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs and business leaders focused on trade opportunities in the semiconductor sector.
This marks Hobbs' second visit to Taiwan as governor. Her first trip occurred in September 2023. During that visit, she met with then-President Tsai Ing-wen and toured the Hsinchu Science Park, Taiwan's first and largest science-based industrial park, home to over 400 companies in the semiconductor and high-tech sectors, according to the Arizona Republic.
In addition to Sandra Watson, president and CEO of the Arizona Commerce Authority, the delegation includes representatives from Arizona's Office of Economic Opportunity and the Greater Phoenix Economic Council. They aim to bolster economic partnerships and attract Taiwanese investments to Arizona, reports the Phoenix Business Journal.
TSMC's Arizona investment remains a focal point. The company's first Phoenix fab is part of an initial US$65 billion investment. TSMC has since signaled an additional US$100 billion in investments. This would bring the total to US$165 billion. The expanded investment would cover two more fabs, packaging centers, and a research facility. The US Department of Commerce has awarded TSMC up to US$6.6 billion in direct funding under the CHIPS and Science Act to support its Arizona expansion.
Potential for further investments
Speculation has arisen about whether Hobbs' visit could attract further Taiwanese semiconductor investment to Arizona. Wu Cheng-wen, head of Taiwan's National Science and Technology Council, noted that firms must assess profitability and global competitiveness. "Investing overseas comes with challenges," he added, emphasizing the need for US government support.
Strengthening tech ties and focusing on AI
Governor Hobbs aims to capitalize on "the forward momentum" in Arizona's manufacturing industry during this trip, according to the governor's office.
"We will continue our success by capitalizing on our growth in the semiconductor industry and further building our ecosystem, attracting key companies from around the world at the cutting edge of technology development and emerging industries like AI," Gov. Hobbs said in a statement to the Phoenix Business Journal. "Arizona is the best place in the world to do business, and I look forward to delivering that message to industry leaders in Taiwan."
Sandra Watson, president and CEO of the Arizona Commerce Authority accompanying Hobbs on the trip, emphasized the long partnership between Arizona and Taiwan. "Arizona and Taiwan have been partners for decades. We've been able to continually grow and enhance this relationship, especially in recent years. An example would be the MOU signed between the Arizona Science Center and its counterpart in Taiwan focused on workforce development," Watson said in an email to the Phoenix Business Journal.
The trip also marks the most recent in a series of visits to Taiwan by Arizona officials seeking to land projects and strengthen business ties. In July, a delegation of Phoenix leaders traveled to Taiwan to pitch Arizona for expansion opportunities as developers worked on plans for Halo Vista, a US$7 billion science and technology park around TSMC's north Phoenix fab site, the Phoenix Business Journal previously reported.
Longstanding tech ties between Arizona and Taiwan
Arizona's technology sector has longstanding ties with Taiwan. Avnet, headquartered in Phoenix, has a significant presence in Taiwan. The company maintains operations in Taipei, Hsinchu, Kaohsiung, and Taichung. Avnet collaborates with Taiwan's original design manufacturers (ODMs) to support the global automotive electronics supply chain. Its Chandler, Arizona, facility serves as a global integration hub. This reinforces Arizona's role in the global semiconductor ecosystem.
The governor's visit underscores Arizona's commitment to strengthening international partnerships and attracting foreign direct investment. These are vital for the state's economic growth and technological advancement, notes the Phoenix Business Journal.
While DIGITIMES previously reported Hobbs would host a dinner for TSMC and supply chain partners, the Arizona Trade and Investment Office clarified that no such event with TSMC was planned. Instead, the visit appears centered on fostering dialogue. Arizona seeks to strengthen its position in the global technology supply chain through these efforts.
Article edited by Jerry Chen
