Vietnam has officially begun construction of its first homegrown semiconductor chip manufacturing facility, marking a significant step in the country's plans to develop a domestic semiconductor ecosystem

Thailand's Board of Investment (BOI) recently approved a major investment plan led by Zhen Ding Tech (ZDT), the world's largest printed circuit board (PCB) manufacturer, in partnership with local firm Saha Pathana Inter-Holding (SPI). The project involves approximately THB65 billion (US$2.1 billion) to establish advanced PCB production capacity, aiming to position Thailand as a key PCB manufacturing center in Southeast Asia

The World Economic Forum (WEF) has named Foxconn Industrial Internet's (FII) Bac Ninh Province facility in Vietnam as the country's first Sustainable Lighthouse Factory, recognizing its use of generative AI (GenAI) to deliver measurable carbon reductions and set a new benchmark for green manufacturing

The US' recent announcement of a 25% tariff on certain advanced computing chips, including Nvidia's H200 and AMD's MI325X, could have implications for Malaysia's semiconductor sector, though experts suggest immediate effects may be limited. The tariffs, justified by the White House on national security grounds, aim to incentivize domestic chip production and reduce reliance on overseas suppliers such as Taiwan

Singapore's sovereign wealth fund, the Government Investment Corporation (GIC), has made significant investments in artificial intelligence startups Anthropic and MiniMax amidst rising concerns about an AI investment bubble. Anthropic recently closed a funding round valuing it at US$35 billion, with GIC as a key backer. At the same time, Chinese AI startup MiniMax saw a strong stock debut on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, also reportedly supported by GIC

Following the US announcement of reciprocal tariffs in 2025, Taiwanese electronic manufacturing services (EMS) companies operating server assembly plants in Mexico are adjusting their supply chains. They are increasingly sourcing components from ASEAN countries. This shift comes amid growing interest in assembling ASIC servers for AI applications in the region

Vietnam's Ministry of Science and Technology has decided to establish a national center for semiconductor chip prototyping, a move aimed at developing high-quality human resources and supporting businesses in one of the country's fastest-growing technology sectors

Google is reportedly planning to move the New Product Introduction (NPI) process for its high-end Pixel smartphones to Vietnam, a step that could mark a major shift in the tech giant's supply chain strategy, though export controls from Beijing may slow implementation, according to Nikkei Asia

CyberPower Systems, a Taiwanese maker of uninterruptible power supply systems, said its revenue declined modestly in December 2025 and for the full year 2025, as changes in US tariff policy and customer inventory adjustments weighed on shipments

Tai-Tech Advanced Electronics posted record revenue in December, the fourth quarter, and the full year of 2025, driven by strong AI-related demand and an initial round of price increases for ferrite bead products, the company said

Singapore-based Grab Holdings has acquired Beijing-founded AI robotics startup Infermove to strengthen its first- and last-mile delivery capabilities, marking a strategic push into autonomous logistics solutions. The acquisition will allow Grab to integrate Infermove's autonomous delivery robots into its existing network while supporting the company's continued expansion in Southeast Asia, according to Reuters, IT News Asia, and Sina

The Johor state government in Malaysia is urging ByteDance to expand its role beyond data centers. The state aims to position itself as a strategic partner for the company's long-term digital plans. Onn Hafiz Ghazi, Johor's chief minister, recently led a delegation to China to meet with senior ByteDance executives, according to Bernama and Nanyang Siang Pau

The Indonesian Nickel Mining and Smelting Association (FINI) expects the country's smelters to require 340 million to 350 million tons of ore in 2026, an increase of about 40 million to 50 million tons. According to Reuters, Indonesia holds the world's largest nickel reserves but recently announced plans to reduce its 2026 production quota to bolster prices and increase government revenue

Chinese electronics manufacturer Luxshare Precision Industry Co. is set to further expand its manufacturing footprint in Vietnam, with a new round of investment focused on virtual reality (VR) devices for Meta Platforms, underscoring Vietnam's growing role in global consumer electronics and immersive device supply chains