BENGALURU, India -- The India Semiconductor Association (ISA) has signed a memorandum of understanding in Taipei with the Taiwan Semiconductor Industry Association (TSIA) aimed at improving business links between semiconductor companies in the two nations. ISA chairman S. Janakiraman and TSIA chairman Frank C. Huang signed the pact.

There have been previous visits by industry groups to the other's countries in search of potential partnerships in previous years. Taiwanese hardware and semiconductor companies look to use Indian hardware and chip-design skills, while Indian firms have often said they would try to scale up the value chain by providing designs to Taiwan's well-known hardware manufacturers.

"Our organizations have agreed to cooperate with each other on a number of activities," said Janakiraman, "key among them being to encourage members to partner with one another in mutually beneficial activities relating to the semiconductor industry, to work together to promote and attend international exhibitions and seminars, and to assist, upon request, on company visits for trade delegations."

"We see immense potential for successful partnerships between our member companies" TSIA's Huang said. "Both countries have inherent strengths in this field and industry can definitely forge a winning partnership."

The TSIA has 150 members, including companies engaged in semiconductor R&D, design, manufacturing, packaging, testing, equipment and materials, while the ISA membership is dominated by design services companies.