Beijing, Apr 08: Intel Corp., the world's largest computer chip maker, has commenced construction of its second chip plant in China with an investment of USD 375 million. The plant, located in Chengdu, the capital of southwest China's Sichuan province, is scheduled to be put into operation next year and is expected to provide 675 jobs. "We are expecting to set up the world's first-class sealing and testing plant by cooperating with the municipal government," Intel's chief executive officer, Craig Barrett said at the foundation laying ceremony.
He said Intel Chengdu plant would make part of the firm's global semiconductor plant network, which also showed Intel's strong support for China's 'go-west' strategy under which multinationals are encouraged to invest in the communist nation's less developed central and western provinces. Intel chose Chengdu for the new plant because of the city's "unique strategic position, outstanding educational system and large numbers of well-trained workforce," Barrett said. The Chengdu plant was designed to meet the increasing demand for Intel products by customers in Asia and the rest of the world, the senior company official said. Intel has already established a similar plant in Pudong new district of Shanghai in east China. Intel has also got chip plants in Malaysia, the Philippines, and Porto Rico.
Intel also has set up research and development centres in Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen, and opened offices in 14 Chinese cities.
Bureau Report