The Philippines is seeking partnerships with leading Taiwanese semiconductor firms to enhance its chip manufacturing capabilities.

Dan Lachica, head of the nation’s primary electronics industry group, said the country is reaching out to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) and United Microelectronics Corp. (UMC) for assistance.

This initiative seeks to catch up with regional competitors such as Malaysia and Singapore, which have advanced their chip production sectors.

Although there have been no official responses from TSMC, UMC has declined to comment on potential collaborations.