Intel to Build in Israel as Chipmakers Move Beyond East Asia

Jun 20, 2023 thejournalbiz

Intel Corp. has agreed in principle to build a new manufacturing plant in Israel, part of a push by the US semiconductor giant and its chip peers to diversify their production sources.

Tweet on Intel expansion

@intel Corp. has agreed in principle to build a new manufacturing plant in Israel.
The latest push by the US semiconductor giant and its chip peers to diversify their production sources! via Bloomberg#intel #semiconductor #chips #BusinessGrowth https://t.co/lBq24xBEXl

— The_Journalbiz (@the_journalbiz) June 20, 2023

Bloomberg news on Intel

The preliminary deal was announced by Israel’s finance ministry and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday. Intel confirmed the company’s “intention to expand manufacturing capacity in Israel,” where it is already active, but didn’t specify the terms or provide other details.

The facility will be for wafer fabrication, a segment in which Israel is already one of Intel’s four major providers, according to a person familiar with the plans who wasn’t authorized to speak publicly.

The expansion will further an effort by Intel Chief Executive Officer Pat Gelsinger to locate more manufacturing outside of Asia, which dominates chip production. He’s also striving to restore the chip pioneer’s technological leadership after companies like Nvidia Corp. and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. eclipsed its capabilities.

While Netanyahu put the value of the deal at $25 billion, which he said was the largest foreign investment in Israel and an “expression of confidence” in the nation’s economy, the person familiar said the total included a previous, $10 billion investment announced in 2021.

According to Israeli officials, the project will add thousands of jobs to the almost 12,000 workers now employed by Intel in the country.

The new plant is slated to begin operations by 2027 and remain active until at least 2035, the ministry said.