The semiconductor industry’s need for water, electricity, land and talent would be fully met, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday at a groundbreaking ceremony for the semiconductor supply chain zone in the Pingtung section of the Southern Taiwan Science Park.
Lai said the ceremony held significant meaning, as it extends the semiconductor supply chain to Pingtung County, which would not only benefit the county, but also signify Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co’s (TSMC) resolve to continue investing in Taiwan.
The zone has been planned by TSMC, the world’s largest contract chipmaker, and would cover an area of about 28 hectares, the Southern Taiwan Science Park said.
Photo courtesy of the Southern Taiwan Science Park’s Pingtung section
The first seven companies to establish bases in the zone are Marketech International Corp, Desiccant Technology Co, Third Enterprise Co, Power Solutions Unlimited, Mega Union Technology Inc, Taiwan Puritic Corp and Scientech Corp.
Yesterday’s event was attended by Lai, TSMC chairman C.C. Wei (魏哲家), Pingtung County Commissioner Chou Chun-mi (周春米) and National Science and Technology Council Minister Wu Cheng-wen (吳誠文).
Addressing the ceremony, Lai said the development of industries in Taiwan must be balanced, the reason why the government has set up an “S-shaped” semiconductor industry corridor through Chiayi, Tainan, Kaohsiung and Pingtung counties.
The government would continue to provide stable water and electricity supplies, as well as land and talent to back Taiwan’s industrial base, thereby enabling the country to build a sustainable industrial ecosystem and transform itself into a global artificial intelligence development hub, he said.
The government’s “Pearl Chain Plan,” a nationwide program to enhance cross-regional water supply resilience, is almost complete, resolving water supply concerns, he said.
On energy availability, Lai said that Taiwan Power Co’s 24-hour real-time information shows that the Percent Operating Reserve is consistently at 20 percent, meaning there is sufficient capacity, adding that continued power infrastructure would increase power generation, as well as advances in technology energy loss reduction.
Land is also not a problem, as the government had provided 1,305 hectares of land for science parks over the past 10 years, which should meet TSMC’s needs to make Taiwan a base of operations, he said.
The park, managed by the National Science and Technology Council, has 28 hectares dedicated to the zone, over which TSMC would have the final say on land use, he added.
Lai said that the government has also relaxed labor and talent regulations so that all who meet the criteria can travel to Taiwan to work.
Without worrying about utilities, the company needs talent, said Wei, expressing the hope that the Pingtung County Government would work to increase its population and educational capacity.
Additional reporting by CNA
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