Hsinchu Science Park’s production reached NT$553.379 billion (US$17.742 billion) for the first half of this year, up 4.25 percent over the same period last year, the park’s administration said yesterday.
The integrated circuit and optoelectronics industries accounted for 88.2 percent of the park’s production for the January-to-June period, the administration said.
The production value of optoelectronics companies within the park amounted to NT$103.03 billion, up 41.86 percent from a year earlier, thanks to the continued growth of flat panel display manufacturers and individual optoelectronics giants, such as AU Optronics (友達光電).
The integrated circuit manufacturers’ production value totaled N$385.064 billion, rising only 0.28 percent year-on-year largely due to the weak performance of the DRAM industry, the park said.
Despite the overall increase in production, several firms experienced declines for the first half of the year, including those in the precision machinery industry, down 2.97 percent to NT$5.604 billion, and the biotechnology industry, down 6.83 percent to NT$1.669 billion.
Park director-general Randy Yen (顏宗明) said that although the local economy and manufacturers continue to face challenges brought about by the US subprime crisis, high oil prices and global economic sluggishness, the park’s production is expected to increase in the second of half of this year as the various high-tech industries within the park enter their high seasons.
The park’s production value is forecast to reach NT$1.198 trillion for this year, which would represent an increase of 4.53 percent over the year-earlier figure, Yen said.
He said that the park, with its top quality facilities, has helped bring about sustainable development for Taiwan’s economy.
Yen predicted that 500 companies would be established within the park by the year 2011, at which time the park’s production is likely to reach the NT$1.5 trillion mark.
The Hsinchu Science Park was established in 1980.
A total of 441 companies, mainly high-tech firms, have set up shop within the 883 hectare park, employing some 130,000 workers, officials said.
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