The Ministry of Economic Affairs on Friday approved Taiwan-Asia Semiconductor Corp’s (TASC, 台亞半導體) application under the Invest in Taiwan initiative to build a new facility at its production site in Hsinchu to enlarge production capacity, at an estimated cost of NT$9 billion (US$296.18 million).
TASC plans to build a new clean room that features smart automatic production lines and a digital monitoring system at its Hsinchu Science Park (新竹科學園區) factory, which would enhance its research, development and productions of gallium nitride chips, the ministry said in a statement.
The planned investment marks the latest effort of TASC, a 30-year-old supplier of LED chips, to strengthen its presence in the global market and to boost its operational resilience, it said.
Photo: REUTERS
The company also plans to install rooftop solar panel systems at the factory and reduce its carbon emissions, the ministry said.
The investment is expected to create 127 jobs, it added.
TASC revenue last year fell 26 percent annually to NT$4.52 billion, while its net profit in the first three quarters plunged 43 percent to NT$379 million, company data showed.
The ministry said it is reviewing applications from 23 other companies on a rolling basis.
The government’s Invest in Taiwan initiative has approved 1,306 applications with pledged investments totaling NT$1.92 trillion, which would be expected to create more than 142,000 jobs, the ministry said.
Among them are 279 Taiwanese companies with overseas operations that are making efforts to return to Taiwan to expand local operations, with a combined investment of NT$1.12 trillion, it said.
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