FIC to build notebook production site in Wujiang

Taiwan’s First International Computer (FIC) confirmed today that it has decided to build a notebook factory in Wujiang, Jiangsu Province (China), but denied that it has any immediate plan for its affiliate 3CEMS Group to operate the new site.According to a report by the Chinese-language Commercial Times today, FIC expects to shortly sign a contract with Wujiang city government officials for the new investment, but plans to have 3CEMS run the factory because the Taiwanese company wants to concentrate on marketing and research and development.In response, FIC stressed that it would manage the factory itself, and so far no plan has been made for 3CEMS’s involvement. The company also denied that it has made any decision to turn most of its orders over to its affiliate in China. Although FIC owns a greater than 60% stake in 3CEMS, the two companies in general have accepted orders independently, FIC said.Details of FIC’s Wujiang investment are unavailable, as FIC said they still need to be worked out. Currently, FIC is relying on its Taiwan base to produce most of its notebooks, while a small number of its notebooks are made at the company’s production site in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province (China), FIC said.Despite efforts to emphasize its Taiwanese roots, the company conceded that it is an inevitable trend for notebook contract makers to gradually increase their weight in China, where production costs are much lower. Although FIC is not ready to give up its manufacturing business, it has tried to further strengthen its ability in research and development, it said.Source: DigiTimes