Taiwan Today

Super Micro Computer Inc. plans to establish its Asian headquarters in northern Taiwan's Taoyuan County, said Charles Liang, president and founder of the California-based technology company, Feb. 1. Super Micro believes that Taiwan has the potential to become a collection and distribution center, especially now that direct cross-strait flights have become a reality, Liang added. Taoyuan County Magistrate Wu Jyh-yang said after meeting with Liang that the county will do its best to assist Super Micro. “We hope that Taoyuan’s high-tech industry can expand its reach into the global market, which will in turn help create jobs,” Wu said. Super Micro, founded in 1993 by Charles Liang and Liao Yu-zen from Taiwan, is the fourth largest company in the server industry, after Hewlett Packard Co., International Business Machines Corp. and Dell Inc. It has already established a research and development center in Taiwan, and has partnered with Taiwanese manufacturers such as Wistron Corp. With help from the Department of Investment Services under the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Super Micro is currently searching for the best location in Taoyuan for its future headquarters. The DIS first put the company in touch with the Taoyuan County Government in November 2009. The headquarters SMCI plans to set up will incorporate high technology plants, a logistics center and a research and development center, which together will require 10 to 20 hectares of land, said the County Government. According to the Taoyuan County government, many foreign companies, including Singapore’s Changi Airports International, Macquarie Group, Morgan Stanley and Citigroup Inc., have made inquiries about investment opportunities and tax incentives in Taoyuan. Costco Wholesale Corp., the first membership warehouse club chain in the world, has also decided to invest NT$800 million (US$24.98 million) in a logistics center in Dayuan in Taoyuan County. The center will begin operations late next year at the earliest, officials said, adding that Costco also plans to open two new branches in Taoyuan County. (KL-HZW)