DOIS accepts invitation to attend second plant opening of AZ Electronic Materials Taiwan in Hsinchu

December 6, 2007

A representative from the Department of Investment Services attended the opening ceremony for AZ Electronic Materials Taiwan's
second plant in Hsinchu on Dec. 6. AZ Electronics' new plant will be devoted to production of photoresists, an essential component in flat panel display manufacturing.

Headquartered in Luxembourg, AZ Electronics is the world's leading manufacturer of photoresists for the flat panel industry, and is owned in part by the Carlyle Group.

DOIS Assistant Director-General Yu Chi-Zen attended the ceremony, at which he made a speech thanking AZ Electronics Taiwan for taking concrete action to expand its investment in Taiwan. He noted that bringing more foreign investment to Taiwan is a major focus of work for the government, and said that the government would assist the company in eliminating any problems it may encounter in its operations.

In his speech, Assistant Director-General Yu referred to a report by the Industrial Knowledge and Economics Center (IEK), a branch of the Industrial Technology and Research Institute, which projected that output from Taiwan's flat panel display and semiconductor industries will break the 1.4 and 1.5 trillion marks this year, respectively.

AZ Electronics Taiwan's new photoresist production plant marks a significant new step, as it will reduce Taiwan manufacturers' reliance on imports, particularly as they have relied on Japan for semi-finished products. The overall efficiency of the supply chain will increase, to the benefit of the company's customers in Taiwan.

Moreover, the new plant could help reduce production costs for Taiwan's flat panel makers while raising the international competitiveness of their products, said Assistant Director-General Yu.

AZ Electronics Taiwan's new facilities, which were reportedly built at a cost of NTD 310 million, are expected to commence full production in Q3 2008. AZ Electronics currently employs 110 persons at its plant, and after expansion is completed, it expects to increase its workforce by 30%.

(Department of Investment Services)

E-mail this page.