Two firms approved to invest over NT$21 billion in Taiwan

Taipei, Nov. 14 (CNA) The Ministry of Economic Affairs said Thursday it has approved NT$21.6 billion (US$720 million) in investment by two companies as part of a government program aimed at boosting investment by local firms in Taiwan, which could create 1,606 jobs.

Super Micro Computer, Inc., Taiwan, which operates overseas as Supermicro, plans to invest NT$20 billion to build a high-end server research and development center and software development facilities, expand its warehouse and logistics center and increase automated assembly lines. It also plans to recruit 1,700 employees in research and development-related areas, according to MOEA's InvesTaiwan Service Center.

Supermicro is an information technology company based in Silicon Valley, California. It was founded in 1993 by Taiwanese-American Charles Liang (梁見後 ) as a maker of computer server boards, power supplies, servers and a wide range of other components. It is one of the biggest players in the server board market.

Meanwhile, Sunrise Plastics Industries Co., Ltd., which produces IC packing trays and memory card lids, will invest over NT$1.6 billion to set up a new manufacturing factory and automated assembly lines, which it is estimated will create 47 jobs.

In addition, Innolux Corp., the world's fourth-largest flat-panel maker, has received a green light to invest NT$70.1 billion in Taiwan under another government plan encouraging overseas Taiwanese businesses to invest in Taiwan.

The Miaoli-based company plans to build new manufacturing facilities in Hsinchu and Tainan and will overhaul its manufacturing processes by using artificial intelligence, with the aim of automating most production lines.

Innolux plans to move some production back to Taiwan from China and build a new television assembly line in Tainan, according to the InvesTaiwan Service Center.

Currently, the total amount of investment pledged under the program to encourage Taiwanese companies operating overseas to invest at home has reached NT$697.1 billion, which it is forecast could create up to 56,294 domestic jobs, according to the center.