Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Holds Talks with Samsung, Intel, and TSMC Leaders... Gathering of Seven Semiconductor Chiefs

Unprecedented Gathering of Semiconductor Leaders
Likely to Request Expansion of Semiconductor Investment in Japan

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will invite and meet simultaneously with the heads of seven major semiconductor companies from the United States, Europe, South Korea, and Taiwan on the 18th. It is considered highly unusual for the executives of the world's leading semiconductor companies to gather in one place. This meeting is interpreted as a strong declaration both domestically and internationally that the Kishida administration is determined to revive Japan's semiconductor industry.

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

On the 18th, Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Nikkei) reported that seven heads of the world's major semiconductor companies are scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Kishida at the Prime Minister's Official Residence in the morning. Attending this meeting will be Kyeong Kye-hyun, President of Samsung Electronics Semiconductor (DS) Division, Liu Deyin, Chairman of TSMC, Pat Gelsinger, CEO of Intel, and Sanjay Mehrotra, CEO of Micron Technology, among other semiconductor industry leaders. Additionally, Flap Laser, CEO of semiconductor equipment company Applied Materials, Dario Gil, Vice President of IBM, and Max Migliori, Vice President of semiconductor research institute IMEC, are also expected to meet with Prime Minister Kishida.

On the Japanese side, besides Prime Minister Kishida, Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura and Chief Cabinet Secretary Seiji Kihara are expected to attend. During this meeting, the executives of each company are likely to explain their investment plans and business development directions in Japan.

In particular, Nikkei forecasts that Samsung Electronics will concretely announce its recently disclosed Yokohama base business plan. Prime Minister Kishida is expected to urge expanded investment through subsidies.

Both inside and outside Japan, this meeting is being evaluated as a strong indication of the Japanese government's intention to revive the domestic semiconductor industry. Japan, which once boasted over 50% market share in the semiconductor industry, has shown a continuous decline after ceding its position to South Korea and Taiwan.

In response, the Kishida Cabinet is accelerating efforts to attract investment with the goal of tripling domestic semiconductor sales to about 15 trillion yen (approximately 146 trillion won) within 30 years. Since 2021, it has formulated the 'Semiconductor-Digital Industry Strategy' and is investing a cumulative budget of about 2 trillion yen (approximately 19 trillion won) to achieve a semiconductor resurgence.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.