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Intel Dalian factory on schedule
By Zhu Chengpei and Zhang Xiaomin (China Daily Liaoning Bureau)
Updated: 2009-04-29 17:01

DALIAN: The world's top chipmaker Intel is carrying out its Dalian Fab 68 project as planned despite the influence of the global financial crisis, a senior Intel manager said on Tuesday in this port city of Northeast China's Liaoning province.

Intel Dalian factory on schedule
Pupils from a primary school near the factory present paper-cutting works to Intel Fab 68 representatives. 
 

"We have confidence that the semiconductor industry will recover," said Joshua Walden, vice president of Intel's technology and manufacturing group, at the opening ceremony of the MSB building of Fab 68 at the Dalian factory.

According to Walden, market cycles of the semiconductor industry show that enough capacities prepared in tough conditions can earn advantages when the market recovers.

Kirby Jefferson, general manager of Intel Semiconductor (Dalian) Ltd, said the schedule for Fab 68's implementation in 2010 has not changed.

It is to serve Intel's global strategy for a long period instead of only the coming one or two years, Jefferson said.

Intel Dalian factory on schedule
Dalian Mayor Xia Deren (third from the left) and Joshua Walden (third from the right) attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony. 

So far, the Dalian factory has recruited more than 500 employees from all over the world. Some of them are being trained in Intel factories in the United States and Ireland.

The completion of the office building is regarded as a milestone for the USD2.5-billion factory, Intel's first wafer fabrication plant in Asia.

"We are glad to see that Intel is confident on the development of Dalian," said Xia Deren, Mayor of Dalian, at the opening ceremony.

"And the Intel factory can contribute to the development of the city's IT industry," Xia commented.

"Some 70 companies related to Intel have signed agreements with the municipal government to set up factories or provide services," he added.

The mayor said the local government will continue to provide support to ensure the project can be completed on time.

In another development, a LED (light-emitting diode) manufacturing center is said to be built near the Intel Dalian factory, said Zhang Shikun, director of the administrative committee of the development zone.

The Intel factory brings many relevant companies to the Dalian Economic and Technological Development Zone, where Intel is located. "The gathering of these companies lays a good foundation for us to build a LED center in three to five years' time," said Zhang.