Manila, 7–8 May 2026: ERIA, in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Philippines, convened the ‘2nd Regional Workshop on Developing the ASEAN Semiconductor Roadmap: Enabling Pathways for Strategic Investment’ in Metro Manila, the Philippines. The workshop brought together policymakers, industry leaders, trade associations, academics, and representatives from the research community across ASEAN.

The event followed up on the first workshop held in March 2026, moving discussions from foundational concepts towards the alignment of initiatives, priority milestones, and investment strategies.

This second workshop marked another important step in developing the Philippines’ 2026 ASEAN Chairship Priority Economic Deliverable (PED), ASEAN Semiconductor Roadmap: Enabling Pathways for Strategic Investment. Supporting the workshop from the host country were representatives from the Department of Finance (DOF), including the Undersecretary of the Government Corporations and Investments Group, alongside representatives from TESDA, DOST-PCIEERD, the Board of Investments, and DTI.

Sessions and Outcomes

Mr Naoto Okura, Director General for Research and Policy Design at ERIA, commended the Philippine Government’s leadership in advancing the regional semiconductor sector through the PED initiative. He reaffirmed ERIA’s commitment to supporting the Philippines, as ASEAN Chair, in developing a practical and forward-looking roadmap.

On behalf of the ASEAN Secretariat, Dr Zurina Moktar, Assistant Director of the Science and Technology Division, thanked ERIA and ASEAN Member State stakeholders for their continued commitment to strengthening regional integration across talent development, technology, innovation, and supply chains while capitalising on global market opportunities.

Ms Ma. Angela E. Ignacio, Undersecretary of the Government Corporations and Investments Group at the DOF Philippines, highlighted the urgency of developing the roadmap amid current geopolitical tensions and supply chain disruptions. Recalling her participation in the Philippine National Consultation Roundtable in November 2025, she emphasised the Philippine Government’s leadership in advancing the semiconductor industry through policy co-ordination, targeted initiatives, and enabling incentives. She also encouraged the mobilisation of blended financing mechanisms to support shared ownership and long-term financial sustainability.

Dr Han Phoumin, Senior Energy Economist at ERIA, presented progress achieved since the first workshop. Under the three strategic focus areas of Technology and Innovation, Talent, and Supply Chain and Investment, he invited participants to share strategies for attracting investment both to the region and individual ASEAN Member States.

Against this backdrop, discussions proceeded as follows:

• Session 1: Technology and Innovation, moderated by Dr Josef T. Yap, Senior Research Fellow at the Ateneo School of Government, examined the ecosystems needed to strengthen ASEAN’s innovation capabilities, with a focus on higher value-added activities and external partnerships with trusted semiconductor economies. Participants concluded that advancing ASEAN’s upstream semiconductor sector would require simultaneous financial investment, regional co-ordination, policy alignment, and broader ecosystem development.
• Session 2: Talent, moderated by Prof. Krista Danielle S. Yu of De La Salle University, explored the conditions needed to develop semiconductor-related talent capable of supporting higher value-added industry segments. Key enablers discussed included fiscal and non-fiscal incentives, workforce development programmes, and professional mobility frameworks, with governments recognised as central to addressing structural barriers.
• Session 3: Supply Chain and Investment Architecture, moderated by Prof. Lawrence Dacuycuy of De La Salle University, focused on investment conditions and policy co-ordination mechanisms needed to deepen regional integration. Suggested enablers included reinvesting taxation revenues, improving cross-border ease of doing business, and advancing trade facilitation measures. While policy inconsistency was identified as a key risk, participants agreed that leveraging the distinct strengths of each ASEAN Member State would help guide regional supply chain development.

As discussions progressed, participants exchanged views on semiconductor investment strategies anchored in ASEAN’s emerging capabilities and global partnerships. The forthcoming third workshop will focus on policy issues and roadmap governance.

Concluding the discussions, Ms Anna Maria Rosario D. Robeniol, Senior Policy Fellow at ERIA, commended the progress achieved during the workshop. Held concurrently with the 48th ASEAN Summit in Cebu, the workshop reflected the strategic importance of the semiconductor sector to the region. She also noted that the roadmap complements other Philippine Chairship PEDs focusing on critical minerals and strategic trade management, helping to prepare ASEAN for future economic and technological challenges.

Photo Credit: ERIA and the ASEAN Secretariat.