Global fab equipment spending for front-end facilities is expected to increase 20% to an all-time high of US$109 billion in 2022, according to SEMI. Taiwan is expected to lead with its spending climbing 52% on year to US$34 billion.

ESG reporting is not merely about numbers and data. It is also about storytelling. More particularly, communicating the company’s values to investors, and being able to provide a holistic view of what the company does allow investors to make informed decisions on whether or not they want to invest in this company.

As global warming receives global attention, curbing greenhouse gas is both a responsibility and pressue for companies. This pressure, which promises to gradually become cost and risk in the future, is now an important part of a company’s business strategy. TSMC’s senior vice president for Europe and Asia, Lora Ho, is the chair of the company’s ESG committee. Ho is a former chief financial officer and is very familiar with cost structures and business conditions, which I think is why she was appointed to this important position.