Taiwan-Japan Semiconductor Honeymoon Deepens... TSMC Chairman "Continuous Support for Japan"
by Moon Chaeseok
Published 26 Feb.2024 21:11(KST)
Updated 27 Feb.2024 10:12(KST)
On the 26th, Liu Deyin, Chairman of Taiwan's TSMC, the world's No. 1 foundry (semiconductor contract manufacturing) company, met with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and expressed his intention to continue supporting Japan's semiconductor industry, Kyodo News reported.
According to the report, Chairman Liu and CEO Wei Zhejia visited the Prime Minister's Official Residence in Tokyo to meet with Prime Minister Kishida.
After the meeting, Chairman Liu told reporters that he emphasized to Prime Minister Kishida the readiness to establish an advanced semiconductor supply chain in Kyushu, Japan, and conveyed his plan to continue supporting Japan's semiconductor industry.
Chairman Liu said, "With Japan's support, the construction of the first plant went very smoothly," and added, "I appreciate the Prime Minister's semiconductor investment strategy."
From the right, Liu Deyin, Chairman of TSMC, and Wei Zhejia, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of TSMC.
Photo by AFP Yonhap News
The TSMC First Plant in Kumamoto Prefecture, Kyushu, which is regarded as a symbol of 'semiconductor cooperation' between Japan and Taiwan, held its opening ceremony on the 24th.
Japan has decided to provide subsidies of up to 476 billion yen (approximately 4.2 trillion won), nearly half of the capital investment for the TSMC First Plant.
The TSMC First Plant, built in Kikuyo Town, Kumamoto Prefecture, is expected to produce about 55,000 units per month (based on 300mm wafers) of 12 to 28 nanometer (nm, one billionth of a meter) process products.
Kyodo News also reported that TSMC plans to start construction of the second plant in Kumamoto Prefecture within this year.
According to Taiwanese media, Chairman Liu said on the 18th of last month that the plan for TSMC's second plant in Japan is still under evaluation and that the deployment of 7nm process is not ruled out.
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