The economics ministry has approved a plan for Google to build Asia’s largest information center in Taiwan and for United Microelectronics Corporation (UMC) to build a wafer foundry in China.
UMC will make a US$450 million investment in Leadcore Technology, a Chinese fabless semiconductor company in Xiamen. The investment is to build a 12-inch wafer foundry. Since the plan doesn’t involve any sensitive high-end technology, the economics ministry decided to approve the investment. Ministry committee spokesperson Chu Pin explains.
"Most people are concerned about whether there will be any leak of technology," said Chu. "But if you notice, UMC is making IC cards. The entire process involves only low-end technology."
The ministry also approved Google’s application to make a NT$2.1 billion investment in Changhua County’s Chang Bing industrial zone. Google is buying a 15-hectare piece of land to build Asia’s largest information center. The center will be able to create many new jobs.