The wholly Taiwanese-invested Compal Vietnam Co. Ltd. broke the ground on its US$500 million laptop factory in northern Vinh Phuc province on November 29.

Covering 100 ha in the Ba Thien Industrial Zone, the factory has a design output of 24 million laptops per year.

Once operational in the third quarter of 2009, the project will employ around 40,000 workers.

More than 10 businesses are expected to pour an additional US$1 billion into facilities to produce computer components for Compal Vietnam. These firms plan to recruit close to 200,000 workers.

A Compal official said the group is awaiting a licence to develop infrastructure for the 327 ha Ba Thien IZ. The work is estimated to cost US$78 million.

 
Local authorities had previously spent US$9 million on clearing the site for the IZ.