Chip specialist ASMI will invest USD 100 million in its production and innovation centre in Dongtan, South Korea, in the coming years. The company from Almere signed an agreement with the South Korean Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.
South Korea is a key location for ASMI, where some of the most advanced chip applications are being developed. The company has been operating in the country since 1989 and established ASM Korea Limited in 1995. Since then, South Korea has grown to become one of ASMI’s premier global technology development and manufacturing locations, with more than 450 employees.
“The chip sector is expected to see rapid growth through the end of the decade, and despite the recent industry slowdown, ASMI continues to invest in growth,” said CEO Benjamin Loh. The expansion will not only serve the main South Korean customers. According to the CEO, all customers will benefit from the technologies that the company is developing in South Korea.
The expansion of ASMI’s Dongtan plant is also necessary to create more space for the company’s fast-growing workforce in South Korea. In addition, it reflects the increasing revenue contribution from the South Korean market expected in the coming years.
According to Lee Chang-yang, South Korea’s Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy, the proposed investment by ASMI is expected to contribute significantly to increasing high-tech development in the country, securing a stable semiconductor supply chain and increasing the export. The minister also expressed his willingness to work closely with ASMI as part of the government’s policy to promote and support the semiconductor industry.
