(From left) InvestPenang chief executive officer Datuk Loo Lee Lian, Sikh Shamsul Ibrahim, Chow, Keivan and Khoo at the opening of the AMD office and engineering lab in Bayan Lepas.
GLOBAL chipmaker Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) has strengthened its roots in Penang with the launch of a sprawling new office and engineering lab facility in Bayan Lepas.
The 209,000sq ft facility at GBS (Global Business Services) By the Sea will house more than 1,200 employees and is equipped with open workspaces and cutting-edge labs to drive advances in semiconductor design.
Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, who officiated the launch, said the milestone underscored the state’s position as a “sustainable and thriving investment destination” for global technology companies.
“As AMD celebrates over five decades of presence in Penang, this milestone stands as a strong testament to the state’s position where companies not only establish a foothold, but also grow and flourish.
“As global trends shift rapidly towards frontier technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), the state government, through InvestPenang, remains committed to supporting forward-looking investors like AMD.
“AMD’s new facility is part of the Penang IC Design and Digital Park under the Penang Silicon Design @ 5km+ initiative launched last year.
“They have also been a strong partner in talent development, including running courses in local universities,” he said in his speech.
Chow also said that the Nasdaq-listed company recently signed a memorandum of understanding with Digital Ministry to provide Malaysian researchers free access to its AI infrastructure.
“Over the years, AMD has continued to grow, forming a joint venture with Tongfu Microelectronics in 2016. In 2020, it launched an engineering division that now boasts over 600 engineers driving world-class innovation in silicon design, validation and customer enablement,” he said.
Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida) chief executive officer Datuk Sikh Shamsul Ibrahim Sikh Abdul Majid said AMD’s new facility in Penang reflected the enduring and evolving partnership between Malaysia and the global technology leader.
“From our initial collaboration in manufacturing five decades ago to this significant investment in integrated circuit design and high-value services, AMD’s journey mirrors Malaysia’s own progression up the semiconductor value chain.
“By anchoring research and development, and advanced capabilities here, AMD is not only creating high-quality jobs but fostering a dynamic ecosystem where local talent and firms can thrive alongside global innovators.
“This is aligned with our New Industrial Master Plan 2030, the National Semiconductor Strategy and the 13th Malaysia Plan.
“We (Mida) are proud to have supported AMD’s strategic growth in Malaysia and look forward to continuing this shared journey of innovation with AMD for many years to come,” he said.
Also present at the event were AMD global operations senior vice-president Keivan Keshvari and Penang site lead Khoo Chuang-Li.
