TAIPEI (AFP) — Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) said Tuesday it planned to invest five billion US dollars to expand capacity in its facility in northern Taiwan.
TSMC, the world's leading contract maker of semiconductors, said it will build the fourth and fifth phases of a factory in a new area in Hsinchu industrial park.
"Our plan is to invest five billion US dollars there for research and development...," said company spokesman JH Tzeng.
"Phases four and five will provide manufacturing services as well," he said, adding the investment is expected to create about 3,000 jobs.
Hsinchu industrial park officials said TSMC as well as Powerchip Semiconductor Corp. and Vanguard International Semiconductor Corp. broke ground Tuesday on the construction of five plants.
"Their investments are estimated to total 450 billion Taiwan dollars (14.7 billion US), with annual output seen at 300 billion Taiwan dollars," an official said.
Powerchip and Vanguard officials were not immediately available for comment.
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