Intel announced a new investment of more than US$200 million in Malaysia, expanding the country’s role as the company’s semiconductor assembly and testing center. According to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, the commitment was formalized during a meeting with the manufacturer’s CEO, Lip-Bu Tan, and published on the Malaysian leader’s Facebook page.
Anwar also stated that Intel’s advanced unit in Penang is practically complete, with 99% of the work completed. The complex received an initial investment of US$7 billion in 2021 and is seen as a key piece in the company’s regional strategy.
The decision reinforces Malaysia’s position as one of the sector’s global hubs. The country, which accounts for around 13% of the global chip assembly, testing and encapsulation market, is trying to expand its presence in the most sophisticated stages of the semiconductor chain and attract projects with greater added value.
In addition to Intel, names like Infineon already operate in Malaysian territory, while technology giants like Microsoft, Google and ByteDance recently announced billion-dollar investments in artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure in the country – a movement driven both by the search for diversification away from China and by the government’s effort to consolidate Malaysia as a strategic destination for the high-tech industry.
