COSTA RICA – Within the framework of industrial policy and investment attraction, representatives of the Secretariat of Innovation and Economic Development (SIDE) of Chihuahua participated in the Semiconductor Workforce Symposium in Costa Rica.
The above, derived from the actions carried out by the Association of the Americas for Economic Prosperity (APEP), which includes countries in the Western Hemisphere such as the United States, Barbados, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, Peru and Uruguay.
The Symposium addressed general programs, discussions on the specific needs of the semiconductor industry, as well as the development of the semiconductor industry’s value chain.
In addition, strategic conversations were held to expand and diversify the semiconductor supply chain and strengthen the workforce in the hemisphere; strategic issues of the International Technology Innovation and Security Fund (ITSI Fund), which promotes the development and adoption of secure telecommunications, were also explored.
During the event, they indicated that the objective of the ITSI Fund is to allocate resources to the labor force through which technical and educational programs will be developed to strengthen labor capacities in the sector, addressing its challenges and opportunities.
Meetings were also held with companies such as Intel and Synopsis, U.S. State Department officials and representatives of academic institutions such as Arizona State University and Purdue University in Indiana.
APEP is an initiative announced at the opening ceremony of the Summit of the Americas by U.S. President Joe Biden to foster regional competitiveness, economic growth, common prosperity, inclusive and sustainable investments, among others.
The event was attended by the Undersecretary of Mining, Industry and Energy, Fernando Alba; the U.S. Assistant Secretary for Economic and Business Affairs, Ramin Toloui; various industry players such as unions, professional associations, think tanks, educational institutions, government officials and APEP members.