《TAIPEI TIMES》Arizona governor lauds TSMC’s new plant

SEEKING PARTNERS: Doug Ducey was aiming to woo Taiwanese suppliers during his three-day trip for the new US$12 billion TSMC plant being built in his state

Reuters and Bloomberg

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Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co （TSMC, 台積電） is making “excellent” progress building its new plant in Phoenix, Arizona Governor Doug Ducey said yesterday in Taipei, as he praised his state’s role in training Taiwanese fighter jet pilots.

TSMC, a major Apple Inc supplier and the world’s largest contract chipmaker, is constructing a US$12 billion plant in Arizona.

Speaking at an investment conference at the Taipei International Convention Center, Ducey recalled meeting the TSMC leadership in 2017 and then in 2020 announcing the investment.

“Just over two years later, TSMC has completed construction for its main facility and continues to make excellent progress,” he said, describing visiting the construction site as “even more impressive in person.”

“Along with TSMC’s historic investment, roughly two dozen Taiwanese-based suppliers are finding Arizona is right for investment,” Ducey added.

The companies are also finding Arizona’s partnership with Taiwan spans decades, he said.

“As one example, for more than 25 years, Taiwan pilots flying F-16 fighter jets have trained at Luke Air Force base in west Phoenix. We are particularly proud of Arizona’s role in helping Taiwan bolster its defense and protect its people,” he said.

Ducey, is the latest in a succession of officials from the US to visit Taiwan, defying pressure from China for such trips not to take place. The Republican Governor is to meet with President Tsai Ing-wen （蔡英文） and with companies in the semiconductor industry on his three-day trip.

Ducey is seeking to woo suppliers for the new US$12 billion TSMC plant being built in his state and yesterday participated in the opening ceremony of the 11th US Business Day event, hosted by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Taiwan External Trade Development Council （外貿協會）. Last week, Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb visited Taiwan on a similar mission.

TSMC said in a statement that Ducey and his team did not visit the company, but did talk with them.

“Thanks to the continuous support of the Arizona state government, representatives of TSMC, together with many supply chain partners, had a great discussion with the governor and his team today on the current investment projects in Arizona,” it said, without elaborating.

US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo said that with legislation to bolster US semiconductor industry enacted, states should be prepared to contend with one another to lure companies and investment.

“This is a race,” she said after an event at an Arizona State University research park in Tempe on Tuesday. “It’ll be competitive. It’ll be transparent and I hope every state competes.”

“Every state ought to put their best foot forward,” Raimondo said. “Every governor, every state legislature, every president of public universities in every state ought to be now putting their plan of attack together. And of course, this is going to be a competitive process.”

Earlier last month, US President Joe Biden signed into law a broad competition bill that included about US$52 billion to enhance US semiconductor research and development, calling it a “once-in-a-generation investment in America itself.”

The chips bill lies at the center of the administration’s effort to reduce dependence on Asian suppliers such as Taiwan and South Korea, whose homegrown companies are leading the market, and to address supply-chain disruptions and resulting price increases for certain goods containing semiconductors.

Additional reporting by staff writer

新聞來源：TAIPEI TIMES