Taipei: President Lai Ching-te on Tuesday highlighted Taiwan's pivotal role in the global semiconductor industry, emphasizing how it has forged new industrial connections worldwide. This development has been instrumental in strengthening international ties and creating a more diversified and resilient supply chain.
According to Focus Taiwan, speaking at the 2026 Semicon Network Summit in Taipei, President Lai detailed how Taiwan has developed a comprehensive semiconductor industry cluster over the decades. This progress has been achieved through global division of labor and long-term cooperation, leading to fast, flexible, and efficient manufacturing processes. Lai noted that Taiwan's semiconductor capabilities have enabled the creation of global networks, allowing countries to leverage their strengths and collaborate on research, development, and production.
Lai further explained that these global connections offer mutual support during natural disasters, pandemics, and geopolitical shifts. With an estimated global market value of over US$1.5 trillion by 2026, the semiconductor industry requires investment across various segments, including IC design, equipment, materials, advanced manufacturing, testing, and packaging. He highlighted significant investments from companies like Nvidia, Micron, and AMD in Taiwan, as well as TSMC's substantial investments in Arizona and Japan.
Additionally, President Lai announced that TSMC's semiconductor fab in Dresden, Germany, is on track to begin production by the end of next year, contributing to local transportation, talent, and industrial development. He expressed gratitude to summit participants from 38 countries for their support of Taiwan and pledged continued government efforts in developing critical technologies and improving essential infrastructure.
In a prerecorded video, U.S. Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg underscored the importance of semiconductors, calling them the "single most important technology of our lifetime." Helberg emphasized Taiwan's central role in the semiconductor industry and its investments in the United States to bolster its manufacturing capabilities. He warned against the vulnerabilities of concentrated supply chains without resilience and advocated for the "Pax Silica" project, which aims to foster a network of trusted partners committed to fair trade and secure technology.
The summit, held at the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center, precedes SEMICON Taiwan, scheduled from September 2-4, featuring discussions among global semiconductor leaders, policymakers, and research experts.