President Luis Abinader to attend 2025 Semiconductor Industry Association Awards Dinner. The event this year will honor Taiwan semiconductor industry founders.
It is unusual for a head of state to attend the 2025 Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) Awards Dinner. The event is an executive-level gathering focused on recognizing excellence in the industry. Attendees primarily include CEOs, COOs, investors, and strategy leads from leading staffing firms and technology providers.
The 2025 event includes a SIA reception at 5pm, dinner, awards presentations and keynote remarks at 6;30pm and after-dinner reception at 8:30pm at the Signia by Hilton San Jose in San Jose, California.
On the agenda for the 2025 SIA Awards Dinner, hosted by the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA), are keynote remarks and presentations related to the semiconductor industry, with a focus on honoring Dr. C.C. Wei and Dr. Mark Liu with the Robert N. Noyce Award. Dr. C.C. Wei is the current Chairman and CEO of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (TSMC or Taiwan Semiconductor). Dr. Mark Liu is the former Chairman and former President & Co-CEO of the same company. Both are highly influential figures in the semiconductor industry, recognized for their leadership in revolutionizing chip manufacturing.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (TSMC or Taiwan Semiconductor) is a Taiwanese multinational semiconductor contract manufacturing and design company. It is one of the world’s most valuable semiconductor companies, the world’s largest dedicated independent (“pure-play”) semiconductor foundry, and Taiwan’s largest company, with headquarters and main operations located in the Hsinchu Science Park in Hsinchu, Taiwan. Although the government of Taiwan is the largest individual shareholder, the majority of TSMC is owned by foreign investors.
The Dominican Republic on 1 May 2018 abruptly severed diplomatic relations with Taiwan after decades of fruitful cooperation. Abinader’s predecessor, Danilo Medina, was who made the switch to establish full diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China that previously had a commercial relationship. Medina was President from 2012 to 2020.
The Presidency reports that President Abinader sees the participation as an opportunity to promote the Dominican Republic as a safe destination to invest in the semiconductor industry and to position the country as a reliable partner for global companies. He will be accompanied by Industry and Commerce Minister Victor (Ito) Bisono and private businesspeople.
President Abinader explained during his Monday, 17 November 2025 press conference that the invitation to participate is a recognition to the advances obtained in the implementing of the National Semiconductor Industry Strategy.
The Dominican Republic is a long way from being able to manufacture microchips. Significant capital investment is needed given that a semiconductor fabrication plant is extremely capital-intensive, estimated at costing US$20 billion or more. Likewise, the manufacturing processes require a skilled workforce, research and development capabilities and supporting infrastructure like reliable power supply and water treatment facilities. Moreso, a strong supply chain of raw materials, equipment and components is required for a country to manufacture the microchips.
Nevertheless, for starters, the DR could take several intermediate steps to prepare the raw material that is used in the microchips before fully manufacturing microchips.
The Dominican Republic is working with the University of Purdue to advance in training for integrating to the manufacturing of microchips.
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Purdue University
19 November 2025