CPT Revives NT$200 B. Investment Project in CTSP

Taipei, June 30, 2008 (CENS)--The Central Taiwan Science Park (CTSP) Administration Office recently proposed a 60-hectare land development project to National Science Council (NSC) of Executive Yuan (the Cabinet) to offer sufficient land for Chunghwa Picture Tubes, Ltd. (CPT)'s new-plant construction plan.

CPT is currently the third-largest thin film transistor-liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) panel manufacturer in Taiwan, and the firm recently decided to revive a NT$200 billion (US$6.56 billion at US$1: NT$30.5) investment project to set up one or two new-generation panel plants in CTSP.

CTSP Administration is planning to develop a 60-hectare plot now owned by the military armored-vehicle brigade near CTSP's Houli Base.

Industry sources pointed out that CPT is conducting final evaluation for setting up one 8.5th-generation (8.5G) or a 6G panel plant, or even both. Construction works are expected to start in the first quarter of 2009 and completed by the end of 2010.

CPT originally planned to pour NT$166.5 billion (US$5.46 billion) to set up a 6G and a 7.5G plants in CTSP Houli Base's Chihsing Farm area in early May 2007, but later balked. CTSP Administration finally decided to take back the 21-hectare land distributed to CPT and reallocated the plot to AUO late last year.

CTSP Administration pointed out that it plans to set aside a 40-hectare plot of the scheduled 60-hectares, dubbed Kwangfu Zone, for CPT's plant building.