Construction on a data center for Google Inc. began April 3 in central Changhua County, a move expected to help establish Taiwan as Asia’s top information and logistics hub.
Spread over 15 hectares in the Coastal Industrial Park, the US$300 million facility is the U.S. Internet heavyweight’s third such venture in Asia after Hong Kong and Singapore. The center is expected to be up and running by the second half of 2013.
“This project represents a major investment in Taiwan,” Minister of Economic Affaris Shih Yen-shiang said at the groundbreaking ceremony. “We will continue providing all necessary assistance to encourage Google in its endeavors.”
Daniel Alegre, president of Google Asia-Pacific, said the center is part of the firm’s drive to provide regional clients with faster and more reliable access to its services.
“More new Internet users are coming online every day here in Asia than anywhere else in the world,” he said, adding that the project is an integral component of the firm’s long-term commitment to the market.
Shih believes Taiwan’s unparalleled information communications technology sector, dependable infrastructure, abundant talent pool and stable business and legal environments are major draws for multinational firms seeking to set up regional bases of operations.
“Additional global players are certain to follow Google’s lead and forge closer ties with Taiwan’s ICT sector,” he added.
But the center is more than just a vote of confidence in Taiwan’s business climate, the minister said. “It will be a test-bed for cutting-edge technology such as nighttime cooling, thermal energy storage and other custom solutions.”
Shih said these measures will help the facility cut power usage by 50 percent, making it one of the most efficient and environmental friendly facilities in Asia. (JSM)
Write to Meg Chang at meg.chang@mail.gio.gov