The mission was organised by a coalition of public and private sector organisations, including the Brabant Development Agency (BOM), Brainport Industries, the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) and Oost NL, in close collaboration with the Dutch embassies in the region and the Malaysian Dutch Business Council (MDBC). The mission was prompted by Southeast Asia’s rapidly growing position in the global semiconductor value chain, building on previous missions and collaborations from recent years.
Strong growth and ambitions in the region
During Semicon Southeast Asia, Dutch companies showcased their technologies and expertise at the NL Pavilion in Kuala Lumpur. Following the opening by the Dutch Ambassador to Malaysia, Jacques Werner, the programme included a welcome address by Michiel Sweers, Director-General for Foreign Economic Relations (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), keynotes by Eduard Stiphout (ASML) and Maurice Geraerts (NXP), pitches by Dutch exhibitors, and meetings with delegations and government representatives from Vietnam, Malaysia and Singapore.
In his speech at the Executive Networking Summit, Peter Stolk highlighted the impressive growth and ambitions of Malaysia and Singapore within the global semiconductor sector. He noted that more than a dozen Dutch companies are now actively setting up or expanding their operations in the region. A Dutch-Malaysian joint venture was also signed at the NL Pavilion during the exhibition.
Gaining a deeper understanding during visits to businesses and government bodies
In addition to the trade fair programme, the mission focused primarily on knowledge exchange and strengthening relationships within the supply chain. In Penang, the delegation visited companies including Smith & Nephew, VAT Manufacturing and Bruker. A speed-dating programme was organised with Bruker, during which Dutch companies engaged in direct discussions with company representatives about potential technological collaboration and business opportunities.
A series of in-depth company visits also took place in Singapore, including visits to VSMC, Palomar Technologies and Applied Materials. At VSMC, the joint venture between Vanguard and NXP, the delegation was given a tour of the new 300mm wafer fab currently under construction. At Applied Materials, another targeted matchmaking session was held between Dutch companies and the company’s management.
In addition, discussions were held with representatives of the Malaysian Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI), regional authorities and semiconductor organisations such as the Malaysia Semiconductor Industry Association (MSIA) and the Singapore Semiconductor Industry Association (SSIA).
Foundation for a long-term partnership
The mission highlighted the strategic importance of cooperation between the Netherlands, Malaysia and Singapore in the next phase of the semiconductor industry. Issues such as advanced packaging, new chip architectures and integrated value chains will become increasingly important in the coming years.
Peter Stolk:
"The Netherlands’ strength lies in the combination of technological expertise, public-private partnerships and robust innovation ecosystems. Initiatives such as the National Technology Strategy and the National Growth Fund programmes contribute to long-term international collaborations and collective innovative strength. The mission to Semicon Southeast Asia confirmed that a strong foundation for this exists in Southeast Asia."
