Two of the world's largest chip manufacturers – Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSMC) and South Korean Samsung Electronics – have initiated talks about possible giant investments in semiconductor factories in the United Arab Emirates, reports The Wall Street Journal.
TSMC representatives have been in the United Arab Emirates and discussed the possibility of building a factory in the country, similar in size to the company's largest facilities in Taiwan, according to the newspaper's sources.
Samsung is also considering a major investment in the country in the coming years and has also had representatives on site in the emirate to discuss the matter.
The talks are in an early stage, according to the newspaper's sources. And there are significant technical challenges that could stop the projects, but the financing would come from the giant fund Mubadala, based in Abu Dhabi.
The two large semiconductor factories that could result from the talks are expected to cost over 100 billion dollars (equivalent to 1,020 billion kronor).