PM Modi In Singapore: Tour Of Major Semiconductor Facility With Prime Minister Lawrence Wong On The Cards. Details Here

The semiconductor sector is a significant focus during PM Modi's visit, highlighting the potential for enhanced trade and cooperation between India and Singapore.

On the second day of his visit to Singapore, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to tour a major semiconductor facility alongside Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, reported ANI. This visit underscores the growing collaboration between the two nations in the high-tech sector, particularly in semiconductors, which are crucial for technological advancements and economic growth.

Prime Minister Modi, who arrived in Singapore on Wednesday, began his engagements with a ceremonial welcome at Parliament House. He held discussions with Prime Minister Wong, followed by the signing of several key Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs). Later in the day, he is scheduled to visit AEM Holdings Ltd, a leading semiconductor manufacturing facility, accompanied by Wong.

Focus On Semiconductors

The semiconductor sector is a significant focus during PM Modi's visit, highlighting the potential for enhanced trade and cooperation between India and Singapore. Despite its small size, Singapore plays a critical role in the global semiconductor market, contributing approximately 10 per cent of the world's semiconductor output, 5 per cent of wafer fabrication capacity, and 20 per cent of semiconductor equipment production.

Singapore's semiconductor industry encompasses various segments, including IC design, assembly, packaging, testing, and wafer fabrication. Notable companies operating in the country include MediaTek, Qualcomm, Broadcom, ASE Group, GlobalFoundries, and Micron. This well-established ecosystem has positioned Singapore as a key player in mature-node chips, commonly used in appliances, automotive, and industrial equipment.

The city-state’s semiconductor facilities are clustered in four wafer fabrication parks spread over 374 hectares. Singapore offers customised infrastructure solutions and maintains a strong focus on talent development, with universities offering specialised courses in microelectronics and IC design.

Singapore's Challenges

While Singapore's semiconductor industry remains centred on mature-node chips, it faces challenges in expanding into advanced semiconductor production, such as AI chips. The high cost of production and competition from global giants like TSMC and Intel have limited Singapore’s capacity to manufacture the cutting-edge technology used in artificial intelligence.

Despite increasing global competition and rising production costs, Singapore continues to invest in its semiconductor sector, leveraging its strengths in infrastructure, business stability, and skilled workforce. However, the growing emphasis on supply chain resilience and the US-China geopolitical tensions are prompting countries, including India, to develop their own semiconductor industries, potentially reshaping the dynamics of the global market.

Prime Minister Modi's visit not only highlights the strategic importance of semiconductors but also sets the stage for deeper economic collaboration between India and Singapore, with potential avenues for technology transfer, talent exchange, and joint ventures in the semiconductor domain.