Malaysia Pushes Into Advanced Semiconductor Packaging With RM185 Million Consortium Initiative
馬來西亞斥資1.85億令吉成立聯盟，大力推動先進半導體封裝技術發展
Malaysia is aiming to develop domestic capabilities in advanced semiconductor packaging within the next two years through the newly established Malaysia Advanced Packaging Consortium (MAPC), a joint initiative between the government and industry players. Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Chang Lih Kang said the consortium brings together five local companies — SkyeChip Bhd, Inari Technology Sdn Bhd, FusionAP Sdn Bhd, Pentamaster Instrumentation Sdn Bhd and NSW Automation Sdn Bhd — under a matching grant model and “whole-of-nation” approach to strengthen the country’s semiconductor ecosystem. The government has approved RM92 million in research and development grants over 24 months, while participating companies will contribute RM93 million, bringing the total investment to RM185 million. Chang said the initiative is designed to help Malaysia move beyond its traditional outsourced semiconductor assembly and test (OSAT) role and establish a foothold in the highly specialised advanced packaging segment.
Chang noted that Malaysia currently lacks advanced packaging capabilities, but success in the initiative would allow the country to retain valuable intellectual property and position itself among a small group of nations with such expertise. Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir said semiconductor development remains a strategic priority under the 13th Malaysia Plan, emphasising the need for sustained R&D investment alongside infrastructure development. Deputy Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Sim Tze Tzin added that Malaysia, already the world’s sixth-largest semiconductor exporter, could strengthen its position in the global supply chain as demand accelerates during the AI-driven semiconductor boom. He said the project aligns with the National Semiconductor Strategy (NSS) and could transform Malaysia into a major hub for semiconductor packaging, testing and exports if successfully executed.
https://sme.asia/malaysia-to-build-advanced-semiconductor-packaging-in-2-years/
編按：馬來西亞成立馬來西亞先進封裝聯盟（MAPC），該聯盟由五家本地企業組成，聯合出資1.85億令吉，企圖在兩年內建立先進的半導體封裝能力。該計劃與國家半導體策略相互契合，旨在突破馬來西亞傳統的外包半導體封裝與測試（OSAT）角色，強化全球供應鏈中的地位，並在人工智慧驅動的半導體產業蓬勃發展之際，將馬來西亞打造成為封裝、測試和出口中心。
Malaysia Pushes EV Expansion Through Tax Incentives, IoT Integration and Smart Charging Networks
馬來西亞透過租稅優惠、物聯網整合和智慧充電網路推動電動車普及
Malaysia is accelerating efforts to expand its electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem through a combination of policy incentives, infrastructure development, and smart-grid integration, according to a report by quantitative data researcher David Chai. While EV adoption in Malaysia continues to grow, EV sales accounted for only around 6% of total vehicle sales in 2025, placing the country behind regional leaders such as Thailand and Vietnam. The report noted that more than 4,000 charging bays have been installed nationwide, although infrastructure remains heavily concentrated in urban areas like Kuala Lumpur and Selangor. To drive adoption, the government has introduced multiple frameworks including the National Automotive Policy (NAP), National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR), and Low Carbon Mobility Blueprint (LCMB), alongside tax incentives such as excise-duty exemptions for locally assembled EVs until 2027 and personal income tax relief for home charging installations. Malaysia is also targeting 10,000 charging bays nationwide through collaborations between the government and private-sector operators such as Tenaga Nasional Bhd, Gentari, ChargEV, and JomCharge.
Despite policy momentum, the report highlighted major challenges slowing nationwide EV expansion, including high installation costs, grid-capacity limitations, regulatory bottlenecks, and uneven charger distribution across rural and urban regions. Selangor currently records the largest shortfall against charging-bay targets, while Penang continues facing infrastructure gaps and limited fast-charging availability. To address these issues, Malaysia is developing the e-Mobility Service Platform (EMSP), a unified digital ecosystem designed to integrate charging access, payments, interoperability, and smart-grid management using Internet of Things (IoT) technologies and blockchain-based systems. The report pointed to Singapore as a successful regional model for EV infrastructure deployment, highlighting its use of open charging standards, coordinated public-private partnerships, and high-density charger networks. It added that stronger investment in smart charging systems, rural infrastructure, and integrated energy management will be critical if Malaysia hopes to scale EV adoption and position itself as a leading sustainable mobility hub in Southeast Asia.
編按：馬來西亞正透過政策、租稅優惠和基礎設施成長來推動電動車的普及，目前已設置超過4000個充電樁，計劃到2027年在全國佈建10000個充電樁。儘管取得了進展，但高成本、電網限制和充電樁分佈不均等挑戰依然存在，促使馬來西亞開發統一的電動車服務平台，以改善充電樁的可及性和智慧電網的整合。
Malaysia Assures Energy Stability Despite Middle East Conflict Pressures
儘管面臨中東衝突壓力，馬來西亞確保能源穩定
Malaysia has secured sufficient energy supplies to meet domestic demand until at least the end of July despite disruptions caused by the ongoing conflict involving Iran, Economy Minister Akmal Nasir said on Monday. Citing data from state energy company Petronas, Akmal said the country’s existing power reserves remain adequate even as electricity demand rises. However, he warned that the geopolitical crisis has sharply increased logistics costs, with shipping rates to the Middle East surging between 50% and 80%, while war-related insurance premiums have climbed by as much as 3%. The aviation sector has also come under pressure, recording a 31.5% decline in daily passenger flights in April due to cancellations and route diversions linked to regional instability.
Akmal said Malaysia’s commodities sector is facing mounting challenges as higher transport costs and weaker exports weigh on performance. The sector’s value declined 14.7% in the first quarter of 2026 compared with a year earlier, largely due to lower exports of key products including palm oil, cocoa, rubber and timber. Total agricultural commodity exports are projected to fall 13.48% to RM170.2 billion this year, while imports are expected to decline 3.28% to RM72.47 billion. In response, the government has advised the commodities ministry to diversify palm oil export destinations and explore new markets to maintain Malaysia’s global competitiveness amid ongoing geopolitical uncertainty.
編按：儘管受到伊朗衝突的影響，馬來西亞已確保足夠的能源供應以滿足至7月的需求量，但不斷上漲的物流成本對航運和航空業造成了衝擊。大宗商品產業面臨壓力，預計出口將大幅下降，促使政府尋求棕櫚油市場多元化，力求在地緣政治不確定性中保持競爭力。
Thailand Car Production Falls to Five-Year Low Amid Export and Energy Pressures
受出口減弱和能源壓力影響，泰國汽車產量降至五年新低
Thailand’s automobile production fell to its lowest level in five years in April as export disruptions linked to the conflict in the Middle East and rising energy prices weighed on the sector, according to the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI). Auto production slipped 0.44% year-on-year to 103,794 units, reversing the 2.69% increase recorded in March. Thailand’s vehicle exports also declined sharply by 8.43% to 60,190 units during the month, reflecting weaker external demand and logistical challenges stemming from geopolitical tensions and higher fuel costs. Despite the slowdown in manufacturing and exports, domestic car sales rose 2.54% to 48,394 vehicles, supported partly by strong bookings generated during the Bangkok Motor Show, FTI auto club president Surapong Paisitpatanapong said during a press conference.
Thailand remains Southeast Asia’s largest automotive manufacturing hub and serves as a key export base for global automakers including Toyota, Honda, BYD and Great Wall Motors. Chinese electric vehicle makers have significantly expanded investments in Thailand in recent years as the country positions itself as a regional EV production and export centre. Despite the latest production weakness, the FTI maintained its forecast for Thailand’s car production to grow 3% in 2026 to 1.5 million units, following a 0.9% decline to 1.455 million units last year. Industry observers say continued investment in EV manufacturing and government support measures could help stabilise the sector once global energy and trade conditions improve.
編按：受中東衝突和能源成本上漲的影響，泰國4月汽車產量跌至五年來的最低點，產量下降0.44%，出口下降8.43%，唯國內銷量略有增長。儘管成長放緩，泰國仍是東南亞最大的汽車生產中心，預計持續的電動車投資和政府支持將促成2026年產量3%的成長。
SUBCON Thailand Generates US$705 Million in Trade as ASEAN Manufacturing Demand Accelerates
隨著東協製造業需求加速成長，泰國產業分包展覽會(SUBCON)創造了7.05億美元的交易額
SUBCON Thailand, ASEAN’s largest industrial sourcing exhibition, concluded its 20th edition with an estimated US$705.5 million (approximately 23 billion baht) in parts trade as manufacturers intensified efforts to strengthen supply-chain partnerships across Southeast Asia. Held in Bangkok from May 13–16, the event attracted more than 50,000 participants and generated over 9,600 business matching pairs. Co-organised by the Thailand Board of Investment (BOI), the Thai Subcontracting Promotion Association and Informa Markets Thailand, the exhibition brought together companies across electric vehicles (EVs), semiconductors, advanced electronics, automation, robotics, aerospace and medical devices. BOI Secretary General Narit Therdsteerasukdi said SUBCON Thailand serves as a strategic platform connecting Thai entrepreneurs to global supply chains at a time when countries worldwide are restructuring industrial capabilities to strengthen domestic manufacturing bases.
Industry participants said the event created significant opportunities for procurement agreements, supplier partnerships and technology collaborations. BMW (Thailand) Co Ltd highlighted the exhibition’s role in connecting automotive and electronics firms with local manufacturers through dedicated business-matching sessions, while S.K. Polymer Co Ltd said the platform helped Thai companies demonstrate internationally competitive quality standards. According to organisers, business matching recorded the highest satisfaction scores among all exhibition activities, reflecting strong demand for regional industrial connectivity. Looking ahead, the BOI plans to expand SUBCON Thailand’s focus into AI, semiconductors, modern vehicles, automation and logistics as part of Thailand’s broader ambition to strengthen its role within global high-tech manufacturing supply chains.
編按：第二十屆泰國產業分包展覽會（SUBCON Thailand）促成了7.055億美元的交易與超過9600場商務對接，吸引了5萬名來自電動車、半導體、機器人、航太和醫療器材等產業的參展者。本次活動由泰國投資促進委員會（BOI）及其合作夥伴共同舉辦，旨在加強供應鏈聯繫，並將重點擴展至人工智慧、自動化和物流領域，以提升泰國在全球高科技製造業中的地位。
Synergetic Auto Performance Plans 1.2 Billion Baht EV Expansion to Boost Growth
Synergetic Auto Performance計劃投資12億泰銖拓展電動車以促進成長
Thai car rental and fleet management company Synergetic Auto Performance Plc (ASAP) has announced plans to invest 1.2 billion baht in electric vehicle (EV) acquisitions and showroom expansion as part of its strategy to strengthen its position in Thailand’s growing EV market. Chief executive Songvit Titipoonya said the investment is expected to increase the company’s revenue by 70% in 2026. Around 1 billion baht of the budget will be allocated to expanding ASAP’s EV fleet for corporate customers, while the remaining 200 million baht will fund the expansion of EV showrooms nationwide. The company reported revenue of 8.65 billion baht in 2025, supported largely by its car rental business and EV dealership operations. ASAP currently distributes several EV brands from China’s Changan Automobile, including Deepal, Nevo, Lumin and Avatr models.
The company said its dealer business is projected to contribute 80% of total revenue this year, with car rental services accounting for the remaining 20%. ASAP has also been steadily increasing its EV fleet to serve government agencies, corporations and industrial estates in line with Thailand’s net-zero emissions strategy. Thailand aims to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, accelerating demand for cleaner transport solutions and EV infrastructure. As part of its expansion plans, Synergetic intends to diversify its product lineup by introducing electric pickups, vans and light trucks from China’s Maxus brand, which is expected to enter the Thai market in the third quarter of 2026. The company targets sales of 300 electric pickups in the second half of this year, rising to 2,200 units annually by 2029 as it positions itself as a major player in Thailand’s evolving EV ecosystem.
編按：Synergetic Auto Performance (ASAP) 將投資 12 億泰銖，用於擴大其電動車隊和展場規模，目標在 2026 年實現營收成長 70%，並鞏固其在泰國電動車市場的地位。該公司計劃引進中國 Maxus 品牌的電動皮卡貨車、廂型車和卡車，以實現產品多元化，並力爭到 2029 年實現年銷量 2200 輛皮卡貨車的目標，作為泰國淨零排放戰略的一部分。
RISE Partners Harvard Business Impact to Boost AI Leadership and Innovation in Thailand
RISE和哈佛商業影響力合作提升泰國人工智慧領導力和創新能力
Regional corporate innovation consultancy RISE has entered a three-year exclusive partnership with Harvard Business Impact to strengthen leadership capabilities among Thai executives and accelerate innovation-driven business transformation. The collaboration will introduce the artificial intelligence (AI)-powered learning platform “HBR Spark” to Thailand, making the country one of the first in Asia alongside Indonesia and India to launch the platform. RISE chief executive Supachai Parchariyanon said Thai companies must shift from defensive business strategies toward innovation-led growth as regional competitors continue advancing rapidly. The company aims to help increase Thailand’s GDP by 1% by 2027 through innovation-driven initiatives. HBR Spark provides executives with AI-curated learning content based on Harvard Business Review resources, including more than 21,000 articles, podcasts, videos and real-world case studies tailored to users’ industries, roles and professional goals.
RISE chief financial officer Sumana Parchariyanon said the partnership was created to address the growing need for AI adoption, workforce transformation and leadership agility within Thailand’s corporate sector. Citing research showing that 39% of worker skills could become obsolete by 2030, she said many Thai businesses are currently focused on using AI primarily for cost reduction rather than generating new growth opportunities. Through the partnership, RISE aims to expose Thai executives to global business perspectives and emerging innovation strategies without requiring overseas travel. The company is targeting 5,000 corporate clients and 25,000 executives during the initial rollout phase. RISE also plans to organise experiential learning workshops featuring Harvard professors and alumni, while expanding into the healthcare sector later this year as part of its broader strategy to create new S-curve growth industries and contribute to Thailand’s long-term economic competitiveness.
編按：RISE創新顧問公司與哈佛商業影響（Harvard Business Impact）簽署合作專約，在泰國推出人工智慧驅動的「HBR Spark」學習平台，旨在提升高階主管的領導敏捷性和創新驅動型成長。這項為期三年的合作計畫涵蓋25,000名高階主管和5,000家企業客戶，透過工作坊，研討會和引導產業擴展，幫助泰國企業調適人工智慧、勞動力轉型和全球競爭力。
Thai Deeptech Startup MUI Robotics Develops Sensory AI Platform Focused on Smell and Taste Intelligence
泰國深科技新創公司MUI Robotics開發出專注於嗅覺與味覺感官的人工智慧平台
Thai deeptech startup MUI Robotics Co Ltd is developing a sensory artificial intelligence (AI) platform that converts smell and taste into digital intelligence, positioning Thailand to become a global leader in what the company describes as the next phase of industrial AI. Speaking at a recent seminar on sensory AI, co-founder and chief executive Wandee Wattanakrit said the world is entering an “AI economy” where sensory data represents an untapped layer of intelligence beyond traditional image, text and audio processing. MUI Robotics believes smell and taste can enable AI systems to better understand the physical world and improve decision-making across industries. Co-founder and chief scientific officer Teerakiat Kerdcharoen said AI technology is evolving from pattern recognition and reasoning capabilities toward a third phase centred on emotional perception and human-like interaction, where systems can interpret sensory experiences more similarly to humans.
The company is initially focusing on commercial applications within Thailand’s food industry, using sensory AI to accelerate product development through virtual taste simulations and advanced quality-control systems. MUI Robotics is also expanding into environmental management by developing odour-monitoring solutions for industrial pollution detection and inspection processes. After collecting food-related sensory data for more than five years, the company has accumulated around 200 million data points and plans to scale the database into the hundreds of billions to create what it believes could become the world’s most comprehensive smell-and-taste intelligence platform. Charnwit Boonchuay, president of the AI Entrepreneurs Association of Thailand, said Thailand’s AI market is projected to reach 50 billion baht in 2026, but local operators currently capture only a small portion of that value. He added that sensory AI could become a key competitive advantage for Thai industries by enabling businesses and factories to interpret real-world conditions more accurately through advanced AI-driven perception systems.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/general/3261558/thai-startup-digitising-smell-and-taste
編按：泰國新創公司MUI Robotics正在開發一種能夠數位化嗅覺和味覺的感官人工智慧平台，旨在將泰國打造為下一階段工業人工智慧領域的全球領導。這項技術將先應用於食品和環境產業，目前已收集了2億個感官數據點，並計劃進一步擴大規模。專家指出，感官人工智慧可望為泰國企業在蓬勃發展的人工智慧市場中帶來競爭優勢。
Thailand Overhauls Import Tax Regime With Higher Tariffs and End of Duty-Free Parcel Exemptions
泰國改革進口稅制度，提高關稅並取消免稅包裹優惠
Thailand has introduced a sweeping overhaul of its customs duty framework in 2026, eliminating long-standing duty exemptions for low-value imports and imposing higher tariffs on a range of consumer goods as part of a broader push to strengthen domestic industries and tighten tax enforcement. Under Customs Notification No. 219/2568, effective January 1, 2026, all imported parcels — regardless of value — are now subject to value-added tax (VAT) and applicable import duties, ending the THB 1,500 de minimis exemption that previously supported cross-border e-commerce shipments into Thailand. The reforms were expanded further on March 30, when the Customs Department announced tariff realignments that could raise duties on products such as plastics, electronics accessories and household items to as high as 30–40%. Authorities said the changes are designed to protect Thai small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from low-cost foreign imports and encourage greater domestic manufacturing competitiveness.
The reforms also place e-commerce platforms directly into Thailand’s tax collection system, requiring marketplaces to calculate duties and VAT at checkout, share transaction-level data with customs authorities, and maintain stronger compliance controls to prevent undervaluation and tax evasion. Logistics operators and customs brokers are expected to face increased administrative burdens as every imported parcel now requires full duty assessment and classification under Thailand’s Harmonized System (HS) code regime. Businesses relying heavily on low-value imports are being urged to reassess pricing structures, supply chains and contractual arrangements as the government moves toward a more protectionist trade framework. Officials estimate the measures could generate an additional THB 300 million in monthly revenue, while signalling a broader policy shift aimed at tightening oversight of foreign imports, digital commerce and investment activity within Thailand’s evolving economic landscape.
編按：泰國已對其關稅體系進行全面改革，取消了低價進口商品1500泰銖的免稅政策，並提高了塑膠和電子產品等商品的關稅，以保護國內產業。改革也要求電商平台在結帳時，代收取營業加值稅和關稅，官員預計每月可增加3億泰銖的稅收，同時加強對外國進口和數位商務的監管。