Project Bulletin: June 20, 2023

A rendering shows the semiconductor assembly/test facility that Intel announced plans to build in Wrocław, Poland.

Image courtesy of Intel Corporation

Intel Corporation continues to grow across the United States and globally, recently announcing an investment in its third European country. On June 16, the company announced a $4.6 billion investment in Wrocław, Poland, for a new semiconductor test and assembly operation. Intel also operates assembly/test sites in Costa Rica, Malaysia, Vietnam and Chengdu, China. Not only will this new facility create over 2,000 jobs, but it will also lead in the environmental sphere by strictly following the EU’s environmental rules with a company goal to reduce the corporation’s carbon footprint. “Poland is already home to Intel operations and is well positioned to work with Intel sites in Germany and Ireland,” says Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger of the new site’s proximity to Intel operations in Leixlip, Ireland, and Magdeburg, Germany. “We’re grateful for the support from Poland as we work to grow the local semiconductor ecosystem and contribute to the EU’s goal of creating a more resilient and sustainable semiconductor supply chain.” Poland’s Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said, “We are pleased that the largest greenfield investment in the history of Poland is being led by Intel, a Silicon Valley legend known for its innovation.” Intel’s project in Ohio was among the top three deals of 2022 highlighted in Site Selection’s May 2023 issue.

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Micron’s Xi’an Factory

Photo courtesy of Micron Technology, Inc.

Semiconductor giant Micron Technology, Inc., announced on June 16 its plans to invest ¥4.3 billion (about US$602 million) into the creation of a new packaging and testing plant at Micron’s existing factory in Xi’an, Shaanxi, China, to “introduce new and high-performance packaging and testing equipment in order to better satisfy Chinese customers’ demand,” according to a Google translation of Micron’s Chinese-language press release.. In line with Micron’s global packaging goals, the new Xi’an building will help to enhance the talents of the current Xi’an factory. The creation of the new building will create over 500 new jobs, attracting new talent into the workforce. “Micron has been rooted in China for two decades and has established a deep relationship with customers,” said Sanjay Mehrotra, Micron president and CEO. “We are very proud of this … this investment project demonstrates Micron’s unwavering commitment to China business and Chinese team members.” Ron Starner detailed the looming impact of Micron’s investment in New York in February. A forthcoming feature on Advanced Manufacturing in the July 2023 issue of Site Selection will include an exclusive interview with a global executive from Micron.

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Addis Ababa is home to the headquarters of the African Union, which just celebrated Africa Day earlier this month. In 2019 the HQ welcomed the unveiling of a statue commemorating former Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie at the 32nd African Union Summit.

Photo courtesy of African Union

Djiboutian Company Wingu.Africa has opened its newest data center in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, adding a fourth country to its list of sites on June 13, 2023. Although Wingu.Africa has data services in Tanzania, Somaliland, and Djibouti, the opening of its data center in Addis Ababa “marks a pivotal moment in Ethiopia’s digital growth,” wrote Georgia Butler in Data Center Dynamics, citing the company’s LinkedIn post. After two years and $50 million to build the center, Wingu.Africa is proud to unveil its newest data center. According to the company’s LinkedIn post, “This significant milestone showcases [their] commitment to delivering top-notch security, technology, and regulatory-compliant data center services across Ethiopia, Djibouti, Somaliland and Tanzania.”

Reports compiled by Adriana Acevedo