“The Strategic Calculus Behind PM Modi’s Malaysia Gambit”, News 18, February 07, 2026
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Malaysia on 7 February 2026 is poised to become a pivotal chapter in India’s semiconductor story. It will tie New Delhi’s scale and design strength with Kuala Lumpur’s hard-won manufacturing expertise.
Malaysia today accounts for approximately 13 per cent of global back-end semiconductor production. It is anchored in decades of experience in outsourced assembly, testing and advanced packaging, with major global players using its Penang and Kulim clusters as critical hubs in their supply chains.
On the Indian side, the Semicon India Programme and the India Semiconductor Mission, backed by a Rs 76,000 crore outlay under ISM 1.0 and a further Rs 40,000 crore under ISM 2.0 announced in Budget 2026, have already cleared 10 projects worth about Rs 1.6 lakh crore. These include two fabrication plants and eight packaging units, signalling that India’s chip push has moved from intent to implementation…..”
Read full article at news18.com
