Netherlands-based ASML Holding N.V., a leading global supplier of semiconductor production equipment, has received the green light to invest more than NT$10 billion (US$313 million) in Taiwan to set up a plant in Linkou District, New Taipei.

In a statement, the Investment Commission of the Ministry of Economic Affairs said on Tuesday that it has approved an application by ASML to infuse about NT$5.65 billion and 140 million euros (US$152 million), which is in excess of NT$10 billion in total, into ASML Taiwan, a subsidiary that specializes in rolling out wafer measuring equipment and provides its clients with technological support and training.

Speaking with reporters, commission spokesperson Su Chi-yen (???), said the Dutch company filed an application with the authorities for approval of the investment plan it announced late last year to build a plant in Linkou.

In November 2022, when the investment plan was announced, ASML said it would continue to invest globally and in Taiwan to prepare for the company's continued growth, while supporting global customers and the development of the semiconductor industry.

ASML is the world's sole supplier of extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUV) photolithography machines used by semiconductor manufacturers to produce cutting-edge chips.

Currently, ASML has 60 operations hubs in 16 countries worldwide, with Taiwan being its largest hub in Asia. In Taiwan, ASML, which is believed to provide EUV machines to the world's largest contract chipmaker Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) to produce chips made from advanced processes, has four client support centers, two R&D centers and two training centers.

In addition to ASML, the commission said it also approved a plan submitted by Yahoo Holdings B.V., which is similarly based in the Netherlands, to inject about NT$3.6 billion into Yahoo! Digital Marketing Ltd., in Taiwan, which provides electronic information services and advertising services in the country.

As for outbound investments, the commission said it has approved an application filed by CBC Bank to remit US$37.05 million to CTBC Bank (Philippines) Corp. as a loan to conduct banking business in the Southeast Asian country.

The commission said iPhone assembler Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., also known as Foxconn globally, secured approval to invest US$329 million in Foxconn Singapore PTE Ltd. for the company's investments in India and Vietnam.

In terms of China bound investments, the commission indicated it approved spending of US$190 million by contract electronics maker Qisda Corp. to take stakes in five Chinese entities, including BenQ Medical Center in Nanjing, while smartphone lens supplier Genius Electronic Optical has secured a greenlight to increase by US$65 million its investment in a subsidiary located in Xiamen, Fujian province.

By: DocMemory
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