AU Optronics Corp (AUO, 友達光電) said it would invest more than 191 million euros (US$280 million) starting next year to set up a liquid-crystal-display (LCD) plant in the Slovak Republic.
The plant, which will manufacture, assemble and sell back-end LCD modules, will be AUO’s second manufacturing base in Europe, a company spokesman said yesterday.
LETTER OF INTENT
AUO chairman Lee Kun-yao (李焜耀), who signed a letter of intent for the plant construction with Slovakian Economic Minister Lubomir Jahnatek a day earlier, said Europe is one of the major markets for LCD TVs.
AUO, the world’s No. 3 LCD panel maker, also sees Europe as a market with high growth potential for the firm’s green business.
The signing ceremony was witnessed by Slovakian Deputy Prime Minister Dusan Caplovic and Taiwanese Representative to Slovakia Chen Chiun-ming (陳俊明) in Bratislava, AUO said.
Slovakia, which became part of the euro-zone this year, not only offers competitive talent, but also enjoys stable economic development, Lee said.
INNOVATION
Jahnatek said at the signing ceremony that Slovakia welcomed AUO’s decision to establish a manufacturing plant in the country because this was in line with its policy of attracting investment from industries that promote innovation, research and high technology.
AUO also has LCD plants in Taiwan’s Longtan and Taichung City, as well as China’s Suzhou, Songjiang and Xiamen and in the Czech Republic.
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