Premier highlights Taiwan's key role in global AI development

Taipei, Sept. 2 (CNA) Taiwan is playing a key role in the global artificial intelligence revolution and is expected to remain at the center of the semiconductor industry's growth, Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) said Wednesday.

Speaking at the opening of SEMICON Taiwan 2026, Cho said rapid AI development has created a global wave of technological innovation and cooperation, with Taiwan playing an important role alongside other countries.

Taiwan's semiconductor production value reached US$209.1 billion in 2025, up 22.7 percent from a year earlier, while TSMC and other major global companies continue to invest in advanced manufacturing, packaging and memory production in Taiwan, Cho said.

Also attending the event, SEMI President and CEO Ajit Manocha said Taiwan is a major global AI hub and one of the industry's most trusted partners, adding that global semiconductor revenue could reach US$2 trillion by 2030, driven by AI.

As AI advances from training to inference, demand will grow for memory, higher bandwidth, advanced packaging and silicon photonics, creating new opportunities across the semiconductor ecosystem, Manocha said.

He observed that the world expects Taiwan to play a critical role in sustaining that growth, as the global industry expands to support the AI revolution.

Cho said the government will prepare the necessary land, energy, talent and financial support to keep pace with the industry's expansion, including by preparing factory space so companies can move in quickly.

SEMICON Taiwan 2026 is running through Friday at Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center, featuring more than 1,300 exhibitors and 4,300 booths from over 60 countries and regions.