Quad Nations to Meet and Discuss Semiconductor Supply Chains and Emerging Technologies
Washington, DC [US], September 23: Ministers of commerce and industry from the Quad member countries—India, the United States, Japan, and Australia—are set to meet for the first time in the coming months. They will discuss important topics like semiconductor supply chains and emerging technologies, according to a White House official.
Memorandum of Cooperation
National Security Council Director for Indo-Pacific Affairs, Josh Rubin, mentioned that there was a memorandum of cooperation between Quad countries for the semiconductor supply chain contingency network. He expects semiconductors and critical and emerging technology issues to be a major topic of discussion during the upcoming meeting.
Recent Quad Leaders’ Summit
Rubin spoke after President Biden hosted the fourth in-person Quad Leaders’ Summit in Wilmington, Delaware, on September 21. The summit included Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. Rubin stated that the Wilmington summit showed the Quad is more strategically aligned than ever and is delivering positive impacts for the Indo-Pacific region.
Future Collaboration
The upcoming meeting of the Quad commerce and industry ministers aims to address ongoing challenges in the semiconductor industry, which have significantly impacted global supply chains. This first ministerial gathering is expected to lay the groundwork for ongoing cooperation, highlighting the Quad’s role in shaping a resilient future for the Indo-Pacific.
Wilmington Declaration
The Wilmington Declaration joint statement welcomed private sector initiatives, including the Quad Investors Network (QUIN), which promotes investments in strategic technologies like clean energy, semiconductors, critical minerals, and quantum. QUIN is mobilizing investments to enhance supply chain resilience, advance joint research and development, commercialize new technologies, and invest in the future workforce.
Maritime Initiative
In addition to semiconductor cooperation, the Quad announced the Maritime Initiative for Training in the Indo-Pacific (MAITRI). This initiative aims to empower Indo-Pacific partners by enhancing their capabilities to monitor and secure their maritime domains effectively.
Commitment to a Free and Open Indo-Pacific
The Quad nations reaffirm their dedication to a free and open Indo-Pacific that benefits all stakeholders involved. The leaders announced that all countries have committed to securing robust funding for Quad priorities through their respective budgetary processes. The Quad is expected to remain a significant part of the Indo-Pacific regional architecture heading into 2025.
Doubts Revealed
Quad Nations -: Quad Nations are four countries: India, the United States, Japan, and Australia. They work together on important issues.
Semiconductor -: A semiconductor is a special material used to make electronic devices like computers and smartphones work.
Supply Chains -: Supply chains are the steps and processes used to make and deliver products from factories to customers.
Emerging Technologies -: Emerging technologies are new and advanced technologies that are still being developed and improved.
National Security Council -: The National Security Council is a group in the government that helps keep the country safe and makes important decisions about security.
Indo-Pacific -: Indo-Pacific is a region that includes the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean, covering many countries in Asia and Oceania.
Quad Leaders’ Summit -: The Quad Leaders’ Summit is a meeting where the leaders of the Quad Nations discuss important global issues and how to work together.
