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Silicon Border Development and ING Real Estate have agreed to
enter into a joint venture to develop, construct and operate the
Mexicali Science Park. The Science Park will be designed to
attract capital-intensive, leading-edge manufacturing operations
for semiconductors, flat panel displays, solar panels, and
biotechnology products.
Science Parks differ from Industrial Parks in that they are
designed to house everything required for leading-edge
manufacturing. In addition to special wiring and plumbing for
high-quality power and water, the park will feature a
university, technical training and research facilities, all
located within the park. The Science Park will be laid out like
a college campus with recreation facilities including soccer,
baseball, tennis and golf, as well as a clubhouse in which
employees, executives, and academia can interact. The Mexicali
Science Park will be modeled after science parks in Asia and is
expected to be the first of its kind in North America. The
border location enables the cost structure to be competitive
with those in Asia, including China, Malaysia, Singapore and
Taiwan.
ING will provide the capital required for the first phase, and
has agreed to participate in three additional phases over the
next 10 years. The Science Park is a 20-year plan in which more
than $1 billion is anticipated to be spent for infrastructure
including commercial services, highways, power generation and
water treatment.
“The trend that has shifted manufacturing to South Asia over the
last 20 years has been driven by the pro-business attitude of
governments there,” said D.J. Hill, Silicon Border Development
chairman and CEO. “Government and private enterprise are working
together to create special locations incorporating the
infrastructure and incentives needed for capital-intensive
factories to operate effectively in one location. Silicon Border
Development has joined with a number of public and private
Mexican entities (federal government, state government, academia
and business) and now with ING to create an environment that
competes head-on with the best locations in Asia in terms of
operating cost, human capital development, and factory
infrastructure. North America now has its own leading-edge
technology haven that will enhance effective...
...Continued
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