To Speed up Expansion of China Chip Plant
Samsung Electronics has dispatched an additional 300 engineers to its memory semiconductor plant in Xian, China.
The company sent the workforce, including engineers from its subcontractors, departed from Incheon International Airport on a chartered flight on May 22.
The engineers entered China on a fast-track immigration program for businesspeople arranged recently between the two countries. They will be exempt from a two-week quarantine and only undergo a COVID-19 test upon arrival.
Samsung Electronics sent the first batch of engineers to the Xian plant last month on a special entry program.
The dispatch of the second batch of engineers came following Samsung Electronics vice chairman Lee Jae-yong's visit to the factory early this week. During the visit, Lee called for preemptive preparation for forthcoming changes, saying, "There is little time to lose."
Last year, Samsung announced an additional US$8 billion investment plan for the Xian plant, in which it has already invested US$7 billion since 2017.