TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Semicon Taiwan will welcome an unprecedented 17 national pavilions, with more than 1,200 businesses from 56 countries exhibiting, reports said Wednesday.

The annual event unveiling the latest developments in the semiconductor industry will open Sept. 8 with a forum, followed by an international semiconductor week from Sept. 10-12, the Liberty Times reported.

Marking the 30th anniversary of Semicon, the event will feature 4,100 booths at Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center. Countries represented for the first time by a full pavilion include Canada, Sweden, Lithuania, Vietnam, and Costa Rica.

Amid the explosive growth of the AI sector, Taiwan has developed a key competitive advantage to become an indispensable partner of companies previously absent from the semiconductor industry, said Semi Global Chief Marketing Officer and President of Semicon Taiwan Terry Tsao (曹世綸).

Forums will feature speakers from leading businesses in the semiconductor and technology sectors, with AI and the safety of supply chains as key topics.

Semi is also planning a new edition of its Semicon West in Phoenix, Arizona, for Oct. 7-9. The move from San Francisco follows the launch of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.'s plant in Phoenix, attracting new investment and wide interest from overseas.