Question

Mr Desmond Choo: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry (a) what is Singapore’s strategy to continue to be relevant in the global semiconductor market; and (b) what are the key challenges in materialising this strategy.

Written Answer by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong

1. Our goal is for Singapore to be a critical node for advanced electronics manufacturing and innovation. To achieve this, we will (a) anchor Research & Development (R&D) and manufacturing capabilities from globally leading companies in key segments like memory and specialty chips, (b) strengthen our R&D ecosystem to drive growth through innovation, (c) develop a strong local base of partners and suppliers to support these activities, and (d) attract more locals into the sector and ensure they acquire industry-relevant skillsets. We will also work with industry to reduce the sector’s carbon footprint in line with Singapore’s net zero target.

2. The global semiconductor market is facing intensive global competition for investments and an expanding scope of trade restrictions and export controls. We will need to stay nimble and calibrate our strategies as required, to sustain and grow an innovative, competitive and resilient semiconductor industry in Singapore.