Air Products signs LoI with Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs

LEHIGH VALLEY, USA: Air Products it has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with The Ministry of Economic Affairs in Taiwan.

The agreement signifies a commitment between both parties to identify investment opportunities in Taiwan's semiconductor, solar energy and TFT-LCD manufacturing industries, foster long-term cooperation with Taiwanese companies and research institutes, and work collaboratively with the country's Industrial Technology Research Institute in the development of gas and semiconductor fluid cleaning technologies.

The LOI was signed by Taiwan Deputy Minister Sheng-Chung Lin and Air Products CEO John E. McGlade at the company's global headquarters in Allentown, Pa. Wilfred Muskens, Deputy Secretary of International Business Development, Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, participated in the ceremony together with officials from various departments within the Taiwan Ministry of Economic Affairs, as well as representatives from the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the US.

"Air Products has been building relationships in the Asia region for nearly 30 years and we are especially pleased with the growth of Air Products San Fu, our Taiwanese affiliate, which is today the largest industrial gas company in Taiwan," said McGlade, who served as vice president of Air Products San Fu Industrial Gas Division based in Taipei in the late 1980s.

"Taiwan is an extremely attractive market for us and we welcome the opportunity to work even more closely with our government, industry and academic partners to enhance Taiwan's global competitiveness."

Deputy Minister Lin, who is leading the Taiwan delegation during visits this week to leading US companies in the gas, energy, biopharmaceutical, telecommunications and information technology industries, expressed his appreciation for the high-quality gases, equipment and chemicals Air Products has supplied to Taiwan's industries over the years and its contribution to Taiwan's industrial development.

"Taiwan is a world leader in semiconductor, LED and solar cell manufacturing," Lin said. "With this agreement we have signed today, it is our hope that Air Products San Fu will continue to invest in the petrochemical and semiconductor industries, and advance its efforts into the green energy industry as well."

Air Products has been operating in Taiwan through its San Fu subsidiary since 1987 and supplies atmospheric and specialty electronics gases, chemicals and related equipment to many industries. The company has approximately 800 employees at 18 locations capable of serving all parts of Taiwan.