KUALA LUMPUR: The government is bolstering its partnerships with developed nations and leading multinational companies in the semiconductor sector to enhance technological collaboration, according to the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI). This strategic move is aimed at increasing technology and knowledge transfer, gaining expertise in high-tech chip production, and attracting more investments from multinational corporations eager to leverage Malaysia's market potential and infrastructure. According to BERNAMA News Agency, MITI provided a written response on the parliament website to a query by Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari (PH-Gombak) regarding the current status and details of the National Semiconductor Strategy. The ministry highlighted several achievements as of the third quarter of 2024, including the training of 500 engineers and 557 technical workers to enhance Malaysia's technical expertise in integrated circuit (IC) design and semiconductor production. Moreover, a total of 4,673 individu als have been employed in the sector. The government has successfully secured investments amounting to RM34.6 billion by the third quarter of 2024. Of this, RM0.97 billion came from domestic investments, while RM34 billion was from foreign investments, leading to the establishment of three local IC design companies during the period. Additionally, MITI reported an increase in the annual total sales rate for electric vehicles (EVs), which reached 5.11 percent by September 2024, compared to 4.12 percent in 2023. The use of new passenger and commercial battery-powered electric vehicles (BEVs) has also risen, with 15,876 units in 2024 compared to 13,513 units in 2023 and 3,146 units in 2020. MITI attributes this progress to the collaborative efforts of ministries and government agencies with the industry, ensuring a more structured and planned development of the EV industry ecosystem. Before 2018, EV usage was minimal and had not significantly developed in Malaysia and the region. In terms of infrastructure pl anning, the government has set a target to establish 10,000 public charging points by 2025, covering all states and strategic locations based on demand or access, as part of MITI's strategy to boost EV usage in Malaysia.