Taiwan's first silk weaving zone slated for completion by yearend

Taipei, Dec. 24, 2004 (CENS)--The construction of Taiwan's first silk weaving industrial zone, located in Yunlin, central Taiwan, is slated for completion by the end of this year, in order for relevant manufacturers to move in before March of 2005.

The zone will have a total of 174.9 hectares of land lots available for sales to manufacturers, with 130.9 hectares to be appropriated for manufacturing plants and the remainder for waste processing plants, gas stations, electricity facilities, administration office, school, and even residence.

The zone is able to house at least 17 textile manufacturing plants and its sales price is estimated at an average of NT$12,919 (US$379.97 at US$1 = NT$34) per ping (1 ping = 36 sq/ft), based on the development cost totaling NT$6.836 billion (US$201.06 million). The price is believed far lower than that of other industrial zones in central Taiwan.

Chen Chien-chu, chairman of Taiwan Silk of Filament Weaving Industrial Association and general manager of Wisher Industrial Co., disclosed that Wisher has decided to set up a plant in the zone and intends to break ground for the projected plant by the end of 2005, if everything goes smoothly. The company's initial investment in the plant and related equipment to be installed is estimated at NT$500 million (US$14.71 million).