Solarcon and Semicon Singapore Showcase Latest Developments in Semiconductor and PV Industries

With 123 companies exhibiting, SEMI kicked off its first Solarcon Singapore co-located with Semicon Singapore 2009 on 20 May at the Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre. The Deputy Managing Director of the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), CEO of SSMC and President of Applied Solar all attended the opening ceremony and were positive about the industries and green opportunities. In conjunction with Semicon Singapore, Solarcon Singapore will present market trends of the growing solar/photovoltaic (PV) market in South East Asia at the 3 day event.

Despite economic uncertainties, South East Asia is positioning itself for the next growth cycle. Leading this effort is Singapore with its plans for manufacturing plants to serve both the semiconductor and the photovoltaic (PV) industries.

”Building on Singapore’s strengths and experience in the semiconductor industry, we have identified clean energy as an area of growth. In the area of solar technology, Singapore is able to leverage on many of the commonalities in processing technology with semiconductor to provide high value-add and create meaningful jobs,” said Manohar Khiatani, Deputy Managing Director during the opening ceremony.

"The demand for PV solar continues to grow and provide new market opportunities for cost-effective, large scale clean electric power, especially in South East Asia. Applied Materials has a significant presence in the region, including a research and development facility in Xi'an, China, that has enabled us to be a catalyst for delivering advanced technology and manufacturing solutions to drive down the price of solar," stated Charles Gay, President of Applied Solar, Applied Materials.

"Singapore not only stands at the forefront of the world’s test, assembly, and packaging market, but also the first South East Asian hub for solar PV testing and certification,” said Paul Davis, Executive Vice President of SEMI. "Semicon and Solarcon Singapore connects the suppliers, speakers, technologies, market opportunities that can help companies manage the current economic downturn and prepare for the upswing.”

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