Malaysia Sets $120 Billion Semiconductor Investment Target for 2030

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has set a target of attracting $120 billion in semiconductor investment by 2030, positioning the country to expand its role in the global chip supply chain.

Speaking on the plans, Anwar said the government intends to reform technical and vocational education and training (TVET) programs so that they more closely match the needs of the semiconductor and broader technology industry. The changes are aimed at ensuring graduates are equipped with the specific skills employers in the sector require.

Malaysia has in recent years sought to strengthen its position in semiconductor manufacturing and assembly, an industry it has hosted for decades, as global companies look to diversify supply chains beyond a handful of established hubs. Government officials have repeatedly framed workforce development as a central pillar of that strategy, alongside efforts to attract foreign direct investment.

Details on how the $120 billion target will be distributed across manufacturing, research and development, and other segments of the semiconductor value chain were not immediately specified. The government has previously outlined broader industrial master plans aimed at moving the country up the value chain from assembly and testing toward higher-value chip design and production.

The push comes amid intensifying global competition for semiconductor investment, with governments across Asia, North America and Europe offering incentives to attract chipmakers and their supply chains.