17/02/2010

Ireland On Shortlist For Major Investment

Ireland has been confirmed as one of the main contenders to secure a major contract from technology giant Intel, that could be significant enough to speed the State's recovery.

Israel and Ireland were confirmed as the two top locations competing for the plant - which will create Intel's next generation of microprocessors - this morning.

Securing the project could lead to a jobs and investment bonanza that could see a quick return to growth and snowballing further investment as confidence returns.

Intel is expected to decide next month on where to build the 22-nanometer technology factory.

The new technology that will be developed at the plant will be used in future chips that will appear on the market in late 2011.

The last major investment by Intel at its sprawling Leixlip plant -- in May 2004 -- saw $2bn being pumped into its FAB 24-2 factory, which runs 65-nanometer process technology.

Intel Ireland have so far refused to comment on the possible outcome of the ongoing deliberations.

Intel employs around 4,500 people in Ireland, between its operations at Leixlip and Shannon. It is also Israel's largest private exporter and biggest private sector employer, with 6,340 staff there.

(DW/GK)


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