Steps taken in the past two years to push the Luchu zone (路竹基地) of the Tainan Science-zoned Industrial Park (台南科學園區) onto the world stage has resulted in a NT$95.6 billion investment from chipmakers and pharmaceutical firms wanting to set up facilities there.
When offering reporters a field trip to the zone yesterday, science park officials said that four firms would certainly establish facilities there while another four were currently in negotiation.
According to the officials, two 12-inch fabs will be established by Silicon Integrated Systems Corp (矽統) in the Luchu zone.
Oncoprobe Biotech Inc (榮睿), engaged in developing, manufacturing and marketing of monoclonal antibodies for biomedical research and diagnostics, will build a factory in the zone to produce chemical reagents.
All Ring Tech Co. Ltd. (萬潤), officials said, will focus on the production of IC packaging-related technology.
In addition, officials said, Taiwan E&M Systems Inc. (敏盛) will produce LCD-making equipment at the zone.
"Total investment from the four is about NT$95.6 billion, and we are currently discussing with the other four," said Shen Shyh-kuen (沈世琨) of the science park's development office (南科籌備處).
According to Tai Chien (戴謙), director of the park's development office, at least four firms would be approved to be stationed in the zone by the end of this year.
Construction of the zone was approved by the Cabinet in April, 2001.
In the wake of the ground-breaking ceremony hosted by President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) in July last year, both the Kaohsiung County Government and the science park's development office had great hopes for the zone' future.
The Luchu zone is designed as a center of diverse industries, ranging from photo-electronic engineering, communications and software design to bio-technology.
About 210 hectares at the site is to be used for constructing factory buildings.
The zone is expected to create 52,000 job opportunities and have an annual output valued in the region of NT$500 billion..
On July 1, a joint business service center run by the county government and the science park was established in the zone to work to attract more businesses. Kaohsiung County Commissioner Yang Chiu-hsing (楊秋興) explained the advantages of the zone to investors, including adequate water and electricity supplies, a convenient transportation network and tax breaks.
Next week, Yang will lead a team to to the US to publicize the Luchu zone, visiting Boston, New York and San Francisco.
Shen of the science park's development office said yesterday that NT$1.5 billion had been spent on constructing core buildings and a wastewater treatment plant, which will be completed by January, 2004.
Officials, however, admitted that some critical problems remained unsolved, such as difficulties created by local opposition to widening roads connecting the Park to Tainan.
In addition, disagreement between the developer, Tainan Science-zoned Industrial Park, and the landowner, Taiwan Sugar Co (台糖), has caused a delay in building a residential district for future employees.
"We hope to have the land to build the residential district by 2004, while [Taisugar] hopes to offer the land in 2006," Shen said.
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